Healey Declares State Of Emergency To Address Lack Of Space To House Migrants

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency Tuesday morning in response to the influx of migrants to the state and the lack of housing supply to accommodate them.

There are nearly 5,600 families — more than 20,000 people — in the commonwealth's shelter program, according to a press release from the state. Through the Office of Housing and Livable Communities that Healey created, the emergency shelter program has expanded to 80 communities and added over 1,000 shelter units.

However, Healey said these efforts aren't enough for the rapid increase in migrants seeking asylum from countries like Haiti, Colombia and Peru, from which many have fled due to political turmoil and economic hardship.

"The increased level in demand is not slowing down," Healey said at a press conference Tuesday morning.

The declaration will allow the state to widen the path for federal aid and bypass normal procurement rules that will allow faster hiring of vendors and contractors and renting of spaces for migrants to stay in, the Boston Globe reported.

"This is a national issue that demands a national response," Healey said. "In the meantime, we are asking the federal government to use the tools already available to give these brave parents a chance to work and support their families." 

Healey said the burdens of housing costs and lack of affordable supply have also worsened the problem as more families continue to enter the state. 

"We are unable to move people in housing and shelter into permanent housing because of this," Healey said. "So, instead we've been expanding and continuing to look for housing and shelter opportunities. We've expanded housing at a rapid pace, and it's unsustainable."

The state's 1983 "right-to-shelter" law, which requires the state to act quickly to provide families housing when in need, has also exacerbated the problem, as more families have needed housing in recent months, the Globe reported. 

Due to this, other options for emergency housing have presented themselves, including hotels and motels.

Since Healey took office, the number of homeless families in motels has climbed from 388 in January to 1,382 at the beginning of August, according to data from the Division of Housing Stabilization obtained by the Globe.

The Healey administration also adopted a new housing code that would make it easier for hotels, motels and other properties to provide emergency shelter services by exempting this type of shelter from certain state sanitary code requirements.

In February, the state and Mark Development were in early talks about using the vacant Hotel Indigo as a temporary shelter for Massachusetts families, but it didn't move forward because of costs, according to a newsletter from Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. The developer has owned the lot since 2021 after winning it at auction.

During the press conference, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announced the launch of the Massachusetts Migrant Families Relief Fund, formed by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and The Boston Foundation. The foundation will help to further fund these shelter providers and services.

Driscoll said there are still many more opportunities for residents and private landlords to help create temporary and permanent housing accommodations.

"There is no doubt that this is a serious crisis," Driscoll said. "We have families in real need in a system that is under stress. But we also have no doubt that Massachusetts will rise to meet this moment."