Massachusetts National Guard members were officially deployed as “rapid response teams” Wednesday to assist with the state’s bursting migrant shelters, as pressure mounts for President Biden to address the crisis in the state.
The move to deploy 250 members comes as Democrat Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency several weeks ago because of the strain on the shelter system.
Currently, more than 6,000 migrant families are in emergency shelters across the state. Massachusetts is a right to shelter state, and must provide emergency housing to families in need.
National Guard members were sent Wednesday to 40 hotels and motels that don’t have service providers. Healey said they’ll coordinate access to meals, medical care and transportation.
According to WFXT Boston 25 News, Driscoll told the Local Government Advisory Commission that between 20 and 35 families seek shelter each day in Massachusetts, occasionally swelling as high as 55 families, which “creates an immediate need to try and find spaces.”
“All of our typical emergency shelter sites were filled a month ago,” Driscoll told Boston 25 News. “That means we’re filling in trying to find locations.”
According to WFXT Boston 25 News, Driscoll told the Local Government Advisory Commission that between 20 and 35 families seek shelter each day in Massachusetts, occasionally swelling as high as 55 families, which “creates an immediate need to try and find spaces.”
“All of our typical emergency shelter sites were filled a month ago,” Driscoll told Boston 25 News. “That means we’re filling in trying to find locations.”
Obey