Local News

Advocates rally outside State House to decry new limits on shelter stays

“The people who are pushed out will become homeless.”

Pat Greenhouse / The Boston Globe

July 29, 2024

Advocates rallied outside the Massachusetts State House on Monday to protest imminent changes to the state’s emergency shelter system that will impose a five-day limit on how long families can stay at overflow shelters.

Healey announces major shelter system changes, caps stays at overflow sites to 5 days

Governor Maura Healey announced the changes, which go into effect Thursday, last week. Her administration has said that some families will be given priority as the state continues to grapple with a severely overburdened shelter system in the face of a surge in migration and an ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Families that will be prioritized with the new limits include those who have become homeless due to no-fault evictions or “sudden or unusual circumstances in Massachusetts beyond their control” like fire or flood, those with at least one veteran, those with medical needs or newborn children, or those at risk of domestic violence.

Families who are not being given priority will only be able to stay at the overflow shelters, or “temporary respite shelters,” for five days starting Aug. 1. Previously, the state set a limit in May of 30 days for the overflow sites. Healey has said the state “cannot afford” the size of the current system.

Advocates on Monday called on Healey to rescind the changes, warning that the policy revision will hurt children and families.

The protest was organized by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, aimed at calling on the governor and legislature to “uphold access to shelter for children and families.”

Kelly Turley, a member of the coalition, said during the event that she fears more families will be forced onto the streets and out of the state if they can’t find accessible shelter, The Boston Globe reports.

We are grateful for the families, advocates, providers, community leaders, faith community members, legislators, etc. who stood alongside us today, calling upon @MassGovernor to reverse the plan to restrict access to family shelter. This policy WILL hurt children & families. pic.twitter.com/YniIZRMout
— MACoalition/Homeless (@MAHomeless) July 29, 2024

This morning, GBLS joined @MassLawReform, @MAHomeless, lawmakers, & community members to protest proposed changes to the Emergency Assistance shelter system that would make it less accessible & less humane for MA residents who need it most. Housing is a human right! #mapoli pic.twitter.com/1MUmTAlkjE
— Greater Boston Legal Services (@BostonLegalAid) July 29, 2024

“The state has spent $11 million on consultants to come up with these plans on granting access to shelters,” Turley said. “At the same time, we’re telling families we don’t have money to provide a safe place for them to stay.”

Craig Andrade, associate dean of practice at Boston University’s School of Public Health, told GBH the change in the policy is “inhumane.”

“They will not magically find housing just because the state imposes new limits,” he told the station. “The people who are pushed out will become homeless.”

Providers told GBH they are already seeing families sleeping unsheltered in parks or outside a family shelter site.