The City of Worcester's Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Homeless Services team implements a wide range of interventions and support designed to address homelessness comprehensively.
What We Do
We connect individuals to shelters, clinics, legal aid, housing programs, and other essential resources. Through on-the-ground outreach, we engage directly with unsheltered individuals and offer on-the-spot information and referrals to shelters, clinics, food programs, housing supports, mental health services, and more.
- Crisis Intervention: Immediate response is provided for individuals in crisis - whether facing weather risks, medical emergencies, or other urgent needs.
- Harm Reduction Efforts: Strategies are implemented to reduce health risks associated with substance use, such as overdose prevention education and distribution of Narcan.
- Peer Support: Outreach teams include individuals with lived experience who foster trust, rapport, and guidance with those experiencing homelessness.
- Shelter Liaison Services: Workers support transitions from the streets into shelters - explaining intake processes, arranging transport, and coordinating entry.
- Basic Needs Assistance: Street-level assistance includes distributing food, warm clothing, hygiene items, and helping individuals obtain identification documents.
- Homelessness Prevention: When possible, outreach intervenes early to prevent eviction situations.
- Legal Support: Provides guidance and support to navigate court processes and avoid criminalization.
- A Recovery Court - also known as a drug treatment or drug court - is a specialized judicial program designed for individuals involved in the legal system who are struggling with substance use disorders. Instead of proceeding with traditional sentencing, the court offers a treatment-focused alternative.
- Behavioral Health & Recovery Referrals: Outreach staff assess for mental-health and substance-use issues and refer to HHS or partner behavioral-health and recovery services.
Together, these activities form a comprehensive street-based model aimed at connecting unsheltered individuals with essential services, crisis support, and pathways to shelter and stability.
- Homelessness Prevention: Working to avert eviction or displacement before individuals lose housing.
- Liaison to Local Shelters: Coordinating with shelters to facilitate access and manage capacity.
- Court Diversion Support: Providing legal advocacy and assistance to help individuals avoid criminalization. Success in the program can lead to reduced charges, lighter penalties, or even dismissal of charges - aiming to break cycles of addiction and recidivism.
HHS operates within the Worcester-City & County Continuum of Care (COC) and partners closely with community-based organizations - all to ensure a coordinated and effective system for support and services.
- Through the City: Contact Homeless Services for immediate referrals and outreach.
- Naloxone and Sharps Disposal Locations: Visit our Substance Use Disorders page from the Worcester Division of Public Health.
- Shelter Applications for Individuals: Individuals can apply at 25 Queen Street, Worcester, MA, or call 508-757-0103.
- Shelter Applications for Families: Families can apply in person at 50 Southwest Cutoff, Worcester, MA, 01604 or call 1-866-584-0653 for an intake.
- Youth (Under 25): Contact LUK at luk@luk.org or call 1-800-579-0000.
Homeless Services by the Numbers
Disrupting the Cycle
In 2026, the municipality began work on "Disrupting the Cycle," a new strategic framework for unhoused individuals in Worcester that aims to:
- Improve efficient use of resources
- Establish accountability among municipal departments and community partners
- Share data for more effective care coordination
- Ensure public health, safety, and equitable engagement with unhoused residents
The framework is being developed in partnership with community agencies, and a draft version was sent to City Council in September, with updates to follow.
The draft framework includes the following goals and objectives:
Addressing Uninhabitable Means of Living
- Draft a citywide public camping ordinance that establishes a clear purpose and outlines public health implications.
- Establish an enforcement framework grounded in legal precedent and clear protocols. Develop and maintain strategies for accountability assurance.
- Develop and maintain strategies for accountability assurance.
- Improve and facilitate outreach and engagement practices, fostering a strengthened pathway to housing stability.
Maximizing Shelter Capacity in Worcester
- Expand shelter capacity and encourage the transition to permanent housing.
- Strengthen management of shelter capacity utilizing a regularly updated dashboard.
- Utilize the Day Resource Center to effectively coordinate access to services with citywide services providers to increase efficiency.
- Create a coordinated shelter access system.
Internal and External Collaboration and Infrastructure
- Develop standardized trainings.
- Maintain collective and collaborative efforts among community partners and community outreach teams.
Worcester HUB
The Hub is a strategic program that combines the efforts of more than 30 local and state organizations to assess and address acute risk behaviors and cases including drug and opioid abuse, chronic homelessness, mental health issues, poverty and crime.
Resources
Free and Low-Cost Drug & Alcohol Rehabs in MA
MA Behavioral Health Access (MABHA)
MASH - Certified Sober Homes
Temporary Shelter Programs in Worcester
Contact Information
Address
Homeless Services
City Hall Room 101
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Contact
Phone: 508-799-8486
Fax: 508-612-1069
HHS_Homeless@worcesterma.gov
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.