Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said that the state would no longer be able to guarantee shelter for migrants amid a surge of asylum seekers that has pushed the capacity to the limit.
The migrant crisis has pushed the state's emergency shelter system to its breaking point as new arrivals will feel the brunt of the changes starting next month. The decision comes despite a law that says eligible families must be offered temporary housing within the state.
Massachusetts' Right-to-Shelter for Migrant Families
Healey's announcement comes after several months of escalating pressure on state leaders amid an unprecedented influx of migrants. Most asylum seekers come from Haiti and the situation has collided with a long-running housing crisis within Massachusetts.
Across the state, roughly 7,000 families, which is twice as many as a year ago, are staying in emergency housing, a mix of traditional shelters, hotel rooms, and co-opted college dorms. Roughly half of the families are new arrivals that came from other countries, as per the New York Times.
The number of families sheltering under the state's system is expected to rise to 7,500 by the end of October and will not be able to expand beyond that point safely. Healey previously released a statement that references what she and other elected officials nationwide described as a lackluster federal response to migration.
The governor said that starting in November, no new shelter beds will be added in her state and that priority will be given to incoming families with health or safety risks. Healey noted that others will be placed on waiting lists.
During a news conference at the Statehouse in Boston, the Massachusetts governor said that this level of demand is not sustainable. She stressed that the entire state was not doing away with its 40-year-old right-to-shelter law, which is the only kind in the United States.
Amid the migrant crisis, Healey called on the federal government to expedite work authorizations and provide financial assistance. She added that the migrants all want to work and support their families and that the state has thousands of open jobs that go unfulfilled, according to CBS News.
Reaching Shelter Capacity
Despite the latest announcement, Healey said they were not changing the state's right-to-shelter status. However, she noted that there needs to be changes, such as prioritizing families with higher needs than others.
Lt. Gen. Scott Rice was also named the new emergency assistance director in Massachusetts as he has experience in the Air Force and was a former commander of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Currently, migrant families are spread across hundreds of locations in 90 cities and towns in various facilities. Officials noted that roughly half of those in emergency shelters are children. Additionally, the state is working to assist families who are already in shelters to be able to exit the system to free up more space.
On the other hand, immigrant rights activists said they welcomed the administration's steps but argued that state and federal lawmakers need to do more to help asylum seekers, said the Associated Press.
