Rockland hotel housing 7 migrant families, with more on way. How are officials preparing?
ROCKLAND – A hotel in town now shelters seven migrant families, with more to come, Town Administrator Douglas Lapp said in a news release.
State officials informed Rockland on Thursday that it had reserved rooms "to provide emergency shelter to unhoused families with children and pregnant individuals," the news release stated.
By law, Massachusetts must provide housing to families. The 1983 "right to shelter" legislation applies to adults with minor dependents as well as pregnant mothers.
In an email, Lapp told The Patriot Ledger that the state has reserved 20 rooms at the hotel for homeless families, but more rooms could be booked later this month. Lapp said he hopes the town will receive federal or state aid to help support the families, but that he doesn't know for certain at this point.
In August, Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency due to the rapid influx of migrant families into Massachusetts. At the end of August, 6,000 families were dependent on the shelter system, a number which has increased since.
In September, state Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus said 6,400 homeless families in Massachusetts were relying on the state for emergency shelter, a 68% increase since January.
About 80 communities across the state have opened hotels, permanent shelters and other facilities for homeless and refugee families, with more opening every week, Augustus said.
Now Rockland is one of those communities. The town is working with the state Department of Public Health's regional response coordinator on "day-to-day operations of the shelter," according to the news release.
The Massachusetts National Guard is helping families with food delivery, transportation, accessing medical care and obtaining child care necessities such as diapers, baby formula and cribs.
The news release notes that some families could have school-age children and that Rockland's school department is working with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to meet potential needs.
In the past year, similar emergency shelters have drawn the attention of a neo-Nazi group based in New England, including shelters in Kingston and Quincy.
Lapp said in an email that "the National Guard will be on-site 24/7 and our local police department will be paying close attention."
“We are grateful that our neighboring towns have reached out to Rockland to offer assistance helping these families in need feel welcome," Lapp wrote in the news release. "Our fire, police, building, health and school departments are all working collectively to make sure our local government is prepared to provide safety and support for these families.
"I am confident that our community at large will come together to embrace this opportunity to support these families that have followed the legal process to seek asylum in our country."
Lapp said people wishing to help should consider donating winter clothing, but they should wait until after officials have assessed the needs of the families.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Rockland officials expect more migrant families after 7 sent to hotel
