30-07-2025
A Place to Live: 2 years in, Worcester housing development celebrates tenants' success
WORCESTER — As its second anniversary approaches, 38 Lewis St. ‒ A Place to Live, a facility offering permanent, supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, is celebrating its tenants' success.
Alex Corrales, CEO of Worcester Housing Authority, the organization that oversees the 24-unit facility, explained how the model works.
"Rent is based on income," Corrales said. "We use project-based vouchers and a project-based voucher means that the state will cover the difference from what a resident can cover. It's unique to every person."
He continued, "So if rent is $900, we don't exceed more than 30% of a tenant's income. They may only be making $900 a month, then their rent is $300 and a project-based voucher covers the rest."
This system has worked for James Lorentz, 44, who has been living at 38 Lewis St. for almost a year and working at an Amazon distribution center in Charlton and the DCU Center for the past eight months.
Lorentz, originally from Pekin, Illinois, had been working as a truck driver in Denver for 10 years. He said after he began working for someone who was new to the industry, his truck broke down in Shrewsbury and he found himself stranded and homeless.
"It's been uphill since I got here," Lorentz said. "I went from fighting for a place to put my mat on the floor of the Queen Street homeless shelter to here. It took a lot of grit and determination."
Lorentz said he was also able to buy a car recently because of the support system at the facility.
"There's nothing like buying your car," He said. "Having something for yourself."
Lorentz had previously relied on public transportation and Uber rides to get to work, something that wasn't always easy.
Lorentz said he would get off work in Charlton at 4:30 a.m., but because the bus system wouldn't start running until 6:30, at the end of a long shift he would turn to rideshare services instead of waiting two hours for a bus.
In addition to buying a car, Lorentz said he has dreams that he is confident A Place to Live can help him accomplish. He eventually wants to go to college and study mental health and music.
Dana Dockery, 65, has lived in Worcester his entire life and says 38 Lewis St. was his favorite place yet.
Dockery recalled receiving a call on Christmas Eve from his lawyer, who had helped him with several housing applications, informing him he would be moving to A Place to Live.
Dockery said he was in shock, holding his hand in the shape of a phone and recreating the scene. "Run that by me again?" he said.
He moved a little over a month later Jan. 27. He said he remembers seeing his room and thinking, "Now this is what I've been looking for. This place is beautiful. Nice and quiet."
Dockery underwent open-heart surgery seven months ago and also has a bad back, leaving him unable to work, he said.
Similar to Lorentz, Dockery said he has experienced positive support during his time living at 38 Lewis St.
Dockery said that he knows there is always someone in the building to help him out when he needs it, despite saying he mostly likes to keep to himself.
He said whenever he has a problem, such as a broken air conditioner, needing his sink repaired or replacing a lost key, he knows it will be handled promptly.
"I really love it here. It's a great place," Dockery said.
Corrales said the project wasn't always easy; nowhere else near Worcester has a similar housing model and staff building trust with tenants was initially challenging.
"We've had to ask folks to leave for the health and safety of other residents in the building." Corrales added.
Lorentz and Dockery aren't A Place to Live's only success stories. Corrales said all 24 units are filled and there hasn't been any resident turnover the past few months. He calls it, "a true milestone."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: A Place to Live: Worcester Housing Authority solution for homelessness
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