Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Administration officials join a biweekly MMA briefing for chief municipal officials about the emergency shelter crisis on Oct. 25. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Anne Marie Stronach, a senior advisor for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, MMA Executive Director Adam Chapdelaine, and Aditya Basheer, assistant secretary for the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.
With the emergency family shelter system quickly approaching its capacity limit, the administration gave an update today on next steps.
“We are committed to ensuring that families know about resources available to them while we prioritize helping long-term shelter residents exit into more stable housing options and connecting them with work opportunities,” said Emergency Assistance Director Lt. Gen. Scott Rice. “The Healey-Driscoll administration continues to call on the federal government to act to address this federal problem, especially when it comes to the need for a large-scale, overflow site for families to stay until a shelter unit becomes available.”
On Oct. 16, Gov. Maura Healey announced that the state does not have enough shelter space, service providers or funding to safely expand beyond 7,500 families. The unprecedented demand on the system has led to safety, operational and fiscal challenges that limit further expansion, she said.
There are already more than 7,300 families in emergency shelters, and the limit is expected to be reached around Nov. 1, Healey said. At that time, newly arriving families will be assessed, and those with high needs, such as health and safety risks, will be prioritized for placement. Families who are not immediately connected with shelter will be placed on a waiting list.
Shelter system placements are spread out across more than 90 municipalities at hundreds of individual shelter sites, including a large number of hotels and motels. The administration said about half of the individuals in emergency shelters are newly arrived migrant families, and the other half are longtime Massachusetts residents.
Municipal resources
The administration has published an FAQ document, updated on Oct. 27, for municipalities that host shelters, addressing questions such as, “How long will this capacity limit stay in effect?” and “Will placements continue to be made in my community?” The administration also launched a website providing shelter placement data, listed by municipality, which is continually updated.
The administration has also shared a 10-page document with local officials that includes a fact sheet, answers to frequently asked questions, answers to fiscal issues, and regional contacts for municipal officials.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has created a web resource area for public school districts experiencing the impact of newly opened emergency assistance family shelters in the current school year. Resources include a webinar about supporting the new students, and a guidance document that includes FAQs. There’s also a link to request translation services and technical assistance.
Administration officials are joining biweekly MMA briefings for chief municipal officials, where they provide updates and respond to questions from local officials who have placements in their communities. The next one-hour briefing is scheduled for Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. Invitations are sent to CMOs from the MMA.
Looking ahead
With emergency shelter needs climbing since last fall, and accelerating this past spring and summer, the governor declared a state of emergency on Aug. 8, but the influx has not abated.
Effective Nov. 1, families will apply for the Emergency Assistance program at EA field offices or the Quincy Family Welcome Center, or by calling 866-584-0653. If there is no capacity on a given day, families will be placed on a waitlist and will be notified when a unit becomes available.
Families placed on the waitlist will receive information about other resources available to them. They will also be assessed for basic needs and offered the opportunity to apply for public benefits through the Department of Transitional Assistance, receive necessities including diapers, hygiene products, and formula, and be referred to community-based resources.
In an effort to help families exit emergency shelter and move into more stable housing, the administration has expanded its HomeBASE program, which helps cover rent and other costs for families with children under age 21 or pregnant women. The maximum HomeBASE benefit has been raised from $20,000 to $45,000. The administration will also offer mobile vouchers, also known as tenant-based vouchers, to the approximately 1,200 Emergency Assistance families who have been in the system longer than 18 months.
Work and legal services
Also today, the administration announced that it is coordinating with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to host a work authorization clinic during the week of Nov. 13 for migrants staying in emergency shelters. The state will be providing transportation from shelter sites to the clinic, which will be held in Middlesex County. The Biden-Harris administration will be providing onsite support to help collect and process work authorizations.
The administration has also launched programs to provide legal assistance to Emergency Assistance families and help shelter residents start working, including a new partnership with Commonwealth Corporation Foundation to connect businesses to individuals in shelter who are still waiting for their work authorization but looking to gain on-the-job training and skills development.
Another program connects MassHire Regional Workforce Boards and careers centers to shelters statewide, with the goal of assessing skills and work readiness of residents who have their work authorization. For example, MassHire South Shore is working with Dunkin Donuts to fill 30 employment openings and coordinating with the Plymouth Area Coalition shelter provider to connect shelter residents to jobs.
The administration has also launched the Immigrant Assistance Services program and additional legal aid services led by resettlement agencies. This fall, the administration launched a Pro Bono Program with immigration organizations to provide services for more than 100 families at large shelters, and began contracting with legal services agencies to provide services in 25 shelter sites across the state.
Resources
• Emergency Shelter Resources (English)
• Recursos Para Refugios de Emergencia (Spanish)
• Resous Chèltè Nan Ka Ijans (Haitian Creole)