Matthew 25 The most visible work of Matthew 25 has been the rehabilitation of abandoned houses in Worcester, Massachusetts. In an innovative undertaking that draws on the resources of the community, Matthew 25 has brought together college students and high school students who volunteer their talents to turn abandoned eyesores into neighborhood gems.

The college students have helped with interior demolition, painting, staining, and landscaping. The high school students from Worcester Vocational High School work under the supervision of their teachers and have done virtually all of the carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and heating work. Matthew 25 has acquired the properties, coordinated constuction, and raised all of the money to buy the required construction supplies.

When the houses are completed, the apartments are rented to low-income families at a percentage of their income (about 25%). The first Matthew 25 house is located at 50-52 Queen Street in Worcester and is listed on the Massachusetts Historical Register. The second Matthew 25 house is a half-block away at 22 Kingsbury Street. Preservation Worcester presented Matthew 25 with an Award for Excellence in Design in the Restoration of a Neighborhood in May of 1997 for the work done on the first two houses.

The third Matthew 25 house is located at 10 Birch Street in Worcester, directly behind Clark University. Under Clark's program for the neighborhood, any child who grows up in nearby housing can go to Clark tuition-free if he or she has the credentials to be accepted to the University. The Board of Matthew 25 screened very carefully for a low-income family with children doing well in school.

In addition to finishing work on a fourth house in Worcester and commencing work on a fifth, Matthew 25 has also acquired its first abandoned house in Boston. Any inquiries concerning Matthew 25 can be directed to Rev. Fred M. Enman, s.j., St. Mary's Hall, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. The telephone # is 617-552-8196.