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Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund

The Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) was established in 2021 by a City ordinance to help address affordable housing needs in the community. The pandemic highlighted the challenge of housing quality and instability, and community input underscored affordable housing as a critical, urgent need. As a result, $28,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding was dedicated to housing. Of this amount, $15,000,000 was initially allocated to the AHTF and committed to thirteen projects that are leveraging over $380M of investment into projects that are creating 512 affordable housing units.

The AHTF is governed by a nine-member AHTF Board responsible for overseeing the Trust's funds and activities. Guided by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44, Section 55C, the Board manages the Trust's assets with the goal of creating and preserving affordable housing opportunities in Worcester. The Board acts much like a financial steward. Their powers include accepting and receiving real property, funding, grants, gifts, etc., for the purpose of purchasing, managing, or improving real property to be used as affordable housing.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Profile  How to Join

Upcoming Meetings

As of July 2025, all current/upcoming agendas and archived meeting minutes are now available through our partner OneMeeting. Archived agendas and minutes are currently available going back to 2021, with older archived files added on an ongoing basis. For meeting materials prior to this time period, please submit a Public Records Request.

Additionally, all meeting videos will be available on the OneMeeting Portal from July 2025 moving forward. Videos prior to this time will still be available in our Video On Demand, but will be migrated to the OneMeeting portal on an ongoing basis.

View Meetings

Mission Statement

The Worcester Affordable Housing Trust creates and preserves affordable rental and homeownership housing for low- and moderate-income residents, especially those at risk of housing instability or displacement. Through equitable investment, cross-sector partnerships, and bold initiatives, the Trust aims to reduce homelessness, increase housing access, and support long-term affordability throughout Worcester.

Funding

The Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) invites qualified housing developers to submit proposals for the development of new income-restricted affordable housing units in the city of Worcester. Funding will be made available through the Community Preservation Act (CPA) and is intended to support the creation of new homeownership and rental housing for households earning up to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), with priority for deeper affordability (30% and 60% AMI).

Funding Overview

A total of approximately $1,350,000 in CPA funds is available through this RFP. Funding awards may not exceed:

  • $150,000 per affordable unit, and
  • 25% of total development cost

Projects that are shovel-ready, include deeper affordability, provide accessible housing above the minimum threshold requirement, and propose cost-effective leveraging of AHTF funds will be most competitive.

Use of Funds

Eligible uses include:

  • Property acquisition
  • Site preparation and infrastructure
  • New construction or substantial rehabilitation
  • Predevelopment soft costs (e.g., architecture, environmental testing, legal)

All uses must comply with the Community Preservation Act (M.G.L. Chapter 44B). Funds may not be used for expenses incurred prior to the execution of a grant agreement or deferred loan agreement with the City and are not available at closing.

Funding Priorities

The AHTF will prioritize proposals that:

  • Provide units at or below 60% area median income (AMI) and 30% AMI.
  • Ensure affordability in perpetuity.
  • Incorporate universal design and exceed minimum accessibility requirement (10% of units and a minimum of 1 unit).
  • Use infill development or adaptive reuse.
  • Are transit-accessible and located near jobs, schools, and services.
  • Demonstrate sustainability and resilience.

Questions and Technical Assistance

Questions must be submitted via email at least three (3) business days before the application submission date to Jeanette Kazmi, Affordable Housing Trust Fund Manager, at KazmiJ@worcesterma.gov.

Virtual technical assistance workshops will be held on the following dates:

Request for Proposals (RFP) Documents

Additional Applicant Resources

Submission Deadline: May 7, 2026

Online Affordable Housing Trust Fund RFP Application

Public Records Requests

On June 3, 2016 Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed An Act to Improve Public Records into law. Many of the provisions in the law took effect on January 1, 2017.

Public Records Requests

Additional Resources

Contact Information

Address

Housing and Neighborhood Development
City Hall 4th Floor
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608

Contact

Phone: 508-799-1400
Fax: 508-799-1406
Email Us

Hours

Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.