Formerly homeless residents gathered with local officials and housing advocates this week for the grand opening of 99 new affordable apartments in a renovated Dorchester hotel, another step in Boston’s housing first efforts to address homelessness.

“Having a safe home here with the Community Builders, everything changed,” said 900 Morrissey Blvd. resident Reginald, telling his experience with substance abuse and homelessness to a full tent outside the new apartment building. “My apartment gave me room to breathe, reconnect with the community, and rebuild my life. Most importantly, I was surrounded by people who truly cared.”

The apartment building at 900 Morrissey Blvd. in Dorchester was developed and now owned and operated by housing development nonprofit The Community Builders, in partnership with homeless shelter and support organization Pine Street Inn to provide services on-site.

The 99 fully furnished studio apartments aim to provide housing and wraparound services within the building for older adults with extremely low incomes who’ve experienced homelessness, officials said, with the adjustable cost of 30% of the residents’ income going to rent.

“All of the tenants here are over 62,” said Pine Street Inn Executive Director Lyndia Downie. “The average age is 68. Six of the folks here are veterans. More importantly, everybody here is now a tenant with a key. They signed a lease. They’re a friend. They’re neighbor now. They’re not worried about where they’re going to sleep tonight.”

Inside the building Wednesday, small crowds touring the space were met with a bright, staffed front entrance, clean, furnished community spaces, and residents milling through.

The city contributed around 20% of the cost of the project and the state supplied around another 40%, said MassHousing Multifamily Programs Vice President Mark Teden. The building received philanthropic support from the Yawkey Foundation, as well as many others.

Community Builders real estate development official Andy Waxman noted the community process for the redevelopment was a “difficult one” with a “sizable contingent of people” opposed to the project.

Waxman said the goal was to “always to listen and to take them seriously,” and TCB and Pine Street staff are still regularly attending community meetings and in “ongoing dialog with local residents.”

The city has created 668 new permanent supportive housing units for residents transitioning out of homelessness under the Mayor Michelle Wu administration.

“Pine Street Inn and this housing first approach has really helped transform the city of Boston,” Wu said, referencing the policy of addressing homelessness by prioritizing getting people into housing. “Over the last five years, we’ve seen a 31% drop in unsheltered homelessness in the city of Boston.”

The city said nearly 9,000 households experiencing homelessness received assistance moving into permanent housing over about five years.

Nearly 40,000 homes have “been completed, entered construction, or advanced into the development pipeline” over the period, the city noted, including nearly 12,000 that are income-restricted and about 6,000 under construction now.

“At (Housing and Livable Communities), our mission is not simply to build more housing; it is to make sure people across Massachusetts have access to the kind of housing they need at a price they can afford, in communities they can thrive,” said HLC Secretary Juana Matias. “And that requires us to use every tool we have. Sometimes that means building something new. Sometimes it means preserving the affordable housing we already have. And sometimes it means taking underused buildings and giving them an entirely new purpose.”

One of the many who’ve already moved into the building, Reginald recounted living on the street for two years before finding support and resources at Pine Street Inn. He called the building “a blessing,” noting that just recently he hit one year of sobriety.

“I’m learning to start over,” said Reginald. “That this can happen at any age. The Community Builders helped me find a home. Pine Street helped me find stability and find purpose in my life. A connection with my community. I’m grateful for how far I’ve come and hopeful that by sharing my story, I can help others find their own path forward.”