Construction begins on $12M supportive housing project in Utica

UTICA, N.Y. — The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) on Oct. 6 announced the start of construction on the Rev. Dr. Mary Webster Wellness Center. The $12 million project will create 20 units of permanent supportive housing in the city of Utica for individuals and families who have experienced homelessness, including veterans and their families. The OTDA’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program provided the project with $10 million in funding. “The apartments being developed at the Rev. Dr. Mary Webster Wellness Center in Utica will provide those who have experienced homelessness, including veterans and their families, with safe, affordable housing they can call home, as well as easy access to the essential services they need to live stable, independent lives,” New York State OTDA Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said in the announcement. Developed by the Utica Center for Development, Inc. (UCD), the Rev. Dr. Mary Webster Wellness Center involves extensive rehabilitation and conversion of a two-story building that was formerly used as a YWCA. The project will be built in two phases, with the first segment consisting of the development of 12 units of housing for veterans, and eight units of housing for those diagnosed with a serious mental illness. The second phase, to be developed later with other funding, will include a wellness center that will includes support services space, a fitness center, and the only indoor public-use pool in the city of Utica, the OTDA said. Additional capital funding for the Rev. Dr. Mary Webster Wellness Center includes $200,000 from the New York State Department of Veterans Services, $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the City of Utica, $525,000 from UCD, and $200,000 from the Mohawk Valley Rehabilitation Corporation. The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, administered by OTDA, is providing operating funding for the project. “This project is a tremendous step forward in addressing homelessness in our community while also honoring our veterans and supporting those facing some of life’s greatest challenges. The Rev. Dr. Mary Webster Wellness Center will not only provide safe and stable housing, but also connect individuals and families to the critical services they need to rebuild their lives. It is especially fitting that it bears the name of Mary Webster, whose legacy of service and compassion continues to inspire,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said in the announcement. A key function of UCD is operating the Central New York Veterans Outreach Center (CNYVOC), which assists an average of 2,500 veterans and their families each year offering case management; legal aid; financial and benefits assistance; and necessities, such as food, household items, and transportation. The CNYVOC operates offices in Utica, Oneonta, Rome, and Watertown and serves all of Oneida, Herkimer, Madison, Lewis, Jefferson, Otsego, Delaware, Greene, Ulster, Schoharie, Chenango, and St. Lawrence counties.