Just what the doctor ordered—an affordable apartment

Worcester resident Ciani Malave said a lot of prayers after breaking up with her children’s father. She knew she needed to walk away from what had become an unhealthy relationship but didn’t have the financial means to get her own place.

She moved in with her mother for a while, then her oldest daughter. Later, she rented a room. “It was something that I was praying to God for because I didn’t want my life to be jumping from houses to houses,” she said. “I didn’t want to be stressed out all the time.”

Little did she know that a doctor’s appointment would put her on a path from homelessness to stable housing. Conversations Malave had with her doctor led the physician to contact a social worker on staff. Malave, a former Head Start teacher who now works with toddlers, was referred to Open Sky Community Services. An outreach specialist shepherded her on the apartment search, had her complete applications for affordable apartments. She got approval for a one-bedroom apartment at District 120 in downtown Worcester.

“I was very happy. I was crying,” she said. “My children were very excited and happy for me when they found out and friends from the church I used to go to.”

MHP provided permanent financing for District 120 with two separate loan packages — $1.53 million for 24 of the units and a separate commitment of $5.6 million for the other 59 units. The site of the former location for Table Talk Pies, Inc., is half a mile from Amtrak and commuter rail. The 83-unit redevelopment for households at or below 60% of AMI, is located near Kelley Square at 120 Washington Street in the city's Canal District, which has seen a significant amount of revitalization activity, most notably the construction of the Polar Park minor league baseball stadium.

“There’s a lot of things that are in walking distance. I can walk downtown, to the market and the view is beautiful from my living room window.” Malave said she likes people watching from her window and stepping out of her apartment to enjoy the fresh air and the neighbors she’s getting to know. She’s able to attend Bible study online in the quiet of her apartment.

“God opened the door for me to have my own apartment. It’s clean. I love it. It is amazing, I have no complaints whatsoever.”

Which might explain why Malave has been referring friends to District 120.

“I print out applications to friends looking for an apartment and I say, ‘Why don’t you apply here? This is a great place to live.’”