Gardner hotel providing shelter for migrant families - what we know
Gardner is among the more than 80 cities and towns currently providing shelter support services to immigrant families in the state.
According to the Massachusetts Executive Office and Housing and Livable Communities, there are 36 families living at one hotel shelter site in the Chair City. (The specific location was not released to protect the confidentiality of the families, according to officials.)
“The (Healey-Driscoll) Administration is engaged in a whole-of-government approach to address shelter capacity challenges, and conversations are ongoing to identify new strategies to transition families into permanent housing or long-term shelter support services,” said Kevin Connor, press secretary for the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. “The health and well-being of the families in the state shelter system are the (office’s) first concern.”
State spending $45 million per month; all available rooms in Gardner are occupied
The state was spending $45 million per month to support the family shelter system, Connor said. Although the system did not track the immigration status of eligible families, it was estimated that about one-third of the current caseload were new arrivals to the state, he added.
“The state is currently using all rooms made available at the Gardner hotel site and I do not currently have a timeline for how long this site will operate,” Connor said, adding that officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education had been in contact with city schools to discuss possible enrollments.
Gov. Maura Healey recently declared a state of emergency due to the rising number of immigrants receiving shelter support services in Massachusetts. She said the system was reaching capacity with nearly 5,600 families currently being housed in the state. Around 1,800 families were residing in hotels and motels, according to officials.
More: Healey declares state of emergency, asks Mass. residents to host immigrant families
City has no role in housing of migrants and bears no cost
According to Mayor Michael Nicholson, the city played no role in locating the families to Gardner and bears no financial costs due to the program.
“Since Massachusetts has a 'right to shelter' law, the state has been doing this completely by themselves,” Nicholson said. “Of course, Gardner will always welcome anyone who wants to make us their new home, and if this is where they start their new lives (away) from dangerous situations elsewhere in the world, then I hope they enjoy their new home.”
The state’s 'right to shelter' law guarantees homeless families access to emergency shelter.
More: Migrant influx fills hotels, strains state shelter capacity
Nonprofits are involved in providing assistance
Among the local organizations that have been providing assistance to the families was the Gardner CAC, according to Executive Director Julie Meehan.
“We were alerted after the families had been there a little while that people at the hotel needed food,” Meehan said. “We’ve assisted with food, personal care items, and a clothing voucher (when needed.)”
Other organizations providing assistance included Mission of Hope International, the Gardner Council on Aging, Community Health Connections, Heywood Hospital, and Chair City Church, according to Meehan.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner hotel providing shelter for migrant families
