Overview:

Construction has begun on the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center housing project, which will provide 44 affordable housing units for veterans in Winchendon. The project involves the redevelopment of the former Streeter and Poland schools, with new construction added to connect the two. The units will range from 470 to 690 square feet, and the project will include site improvements such as new walkways, exterior lighting, landscaping, accessible units, community gathering areas, and outdoor recreation space.

WINCHENDON – Construction is underway on a Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center housing project that will create 44 affordable housing units for veterans on Murdock Avenue.

The redevelopment will convert the former Streeter and Poland schools into housing, with new construction added to connect the two, according to a recent announcement about the project.

The Streeter building will house 17 one-bedroom units and the Poland building will have seven, with an additional 20 units created through new construction. Units are expected to range from about 470 to 690 square feet.

The project also includes a series of site improvements, including new walkways, exterior lighting, landscaping, accessible units, community gathering areas and outdoor recreation space. MVOC said residents will have on-site support services such as case management, mental health counseling, transportation assistance and help accessing veterans’ benefits.

According to the MVOC, the redevelopment of the former school buildings is being done as part of the Healey-Driscoll administration’s $20 million End Veteran Homelessness initiative.

The project received $3 million in capital funding from the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) and $7.5 million from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

At a groundbreaking ceremony held in December, EOHLC Secretary Ed Augustus said, “Every veteran deserves more than our gratitude. They deserve a safe and stable home.”

MVOC President and founder Cathy McWilliams emphasized what this means for the organization and the veterans it serves.

“The completion of this project will be a tremendous source of pride for MVOC, but more importantly, 44 more veterans will have a state-of-the-art facility to proudly call home,” she said.

Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months and MVOC hopes the housing could be ready for occupancy by spring or summer 2027, though a final timeline has not yet been confirmed.