Boston’s largest permanent supportive housing development wins key approval

What’s being called the largest permanent supportive housing development of its kind in Boston won approval from the Boston Planning & Development Agency on November 14.

Pine Street Inn and the Community Builders Inc., a nonprofit developer, want to build a five-story, 202-unit mixed-use property at 3368 Washington Street in Jamaica Plain that would include offices for Pine Street as well as 140 studios for people who were formerly homeless. The remaining units would be for households earning between 60 percent and 80 percent of the area median income.

Pine Street, a major provider of shelter and outreach to the homeless, currently owns 3368 Washington. The warehouse on the site is expected to be demolished as part of the development. And, while the BPDA approval is a major step, the project still needs to line up financing before its backers can start construction.

Nevertheless, the project has one major ally in its corner. Mayor Marty Walsh has pushed this sort of supportive housing—which combines affordable units with units that also include access to on-site social services—as part of his administration’s effort to curb homelessness in Boston.

“We are committed to making sure that every individual has a place to call home and build a better life,” Walsh said in a statement. “This project is only possible because of the commitment of Pine Street Inn, the Community Builders, and many partners and stakeholders across the city who have joined our call to bring an end to chronic homelessness.”