In a recent development, Massachusetts has officially reached its capacity for families seeking refuge in emergency shelters. The state's emergency assistance website dashboard now indicates

that 7,517 families are accommodated, primarily in hotels or motels. The escalating numbers are attributed to a continuous influx of migrants arriving in the state.

Emergency Assistance Director General Scott Rice addressed the situation, stating, "Today, the family shelter system has reached 7,500 families, and we are at the point where we do not have enough shelter units, service providers, or funding to continue to safely expand."

Families will be accommodated until the end of the day, and starting tomorrow, placement into shelters will depend on the availability of units. Families eligible for emergency assistance but without available shelter units will be placed on a waitlist. The administration remains committed to providing arriving families with essential resources, necessities, and support, collaborating with community partners to secure safe overnight options.

The decision to cap the number of families at 7,500 was made by Governor Maura Healey, emphasizing the state's resource limitations. Despite legal challenges claiming a violation of the state's Right to Shelter law, a judge sided with Governor Healey earlier in November.

Families beyond the capacity will now be placed on a waitlist, with priority given to those in urgent need of assistance. To address the situation, Massachusetts lawmakers are considering the establishment of "overflow" sites, with Boston's Hynes Convention Center being one of the locations under consideration. Additionally, legislators are evaluating Governor Healey's request for $250 million to support the shelter system, allocating $50 million for overflow sites and $75 million for school district costs. Photo by Zgreenblatt, Wikimedia commons.