Worcester Common Ground

Worcester Common Ground, Inc. - Neighborhood

Neighborhood Initiatives - WCG continues to focus on neighborhood initiatives in order to strengthen the connection between the neighborhoods and to work with the community to identify problems and solutions. This work has resulted in:

Piedmont Initiative
Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative
First-Time Homeownership Initiative
Resident Owner Support Initiative
Austin Street Initiative
Your Own Home/Su Casa Propia: First-Time Home Buyer Initiative
Post-Purchase Counseling Initiative
Pleasant Area Community Team (PACT)
Pleasant Street Weed and Seed Initiative
Worcester Polytechnic Institute COPC Initiative: Chandler Street Corridor Revitalization Study
Bellevue/Bluff Neighborhood Group
Green CDC Initiative
Environmental Justice Initiative

Programs and Services - The programs and services offered by WCG fall into three departments: Property, Housing Development, and Neighborhood Services and Programs.

The Property Division manages 76 rental units in 14 properties, the main objective of the Property Division is to maintain and manage existing properties.

The Housing Development Division oversees all housing production. The main objective of the Housing Development Division is to reclaim and redevelop abandoned and/or distressed properties, transforming them from neighborhood eyesores into assets.

The primary purpose of Neighborhood Services and Programs is to engage the community in neighborhood stabilization, revitalization and development. The main objectives are as follows:

Building and strengthening relationships with resident groups and organizations
Assisting residents in identifying solutions to neighborhood problems
Building and maintaining a strong, resident-led membership

Some of our Programs include:

Forever Affordable Program
Homeowner Assistance Program, HAP
First-Time Homeowner Program
Affordable Housing Program
Co-op Education Program
Co-op Training Program
Worcester Housing Improvement Program (part of NRSA)

				Collaborations - WCG establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with agencies and organizations that share a commitment to and can provide services in the target area. In all of its work, WCG fosters a sense of team work and support throughout the community. WCG has a consistent track record of reaching out to the neighborhood residents as part of all planning and development efforts. A full time bi-lingual neighborhood outreach staff person works building relationships with community residents and in conjunction with neighborhood groups.
	WCG is an active participant in resident planning efforts and serves an important leadership role within the community. Some of our partners include: various City Departments - including but not limited to Fire, Police, Public Works, Health & Code - and other area non-profits, such as the Worcester Art Museum, Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center, Worcester Homeownership Center/ Worcester Community Housing Resources, WPI, Clark University, and Anna Maria College, the City Manager's Piedmont Initiative Task Force, the Piedmont Crime Prevention Team neighborhood activities, Pleasant Renaissance, Newbury Street Tot Lot Planning Group, and Downtown Neighborhood Partners (DNP), a coalition of resident groups, and institutions active in the Piedmont, Crown Hill, and Elm Park neighborhoods.