'Where are these people gonna go?' Massachusetts' emergency shelters reach capacity amid ongoing migrant crisis

Massachusetts' emergency shelter system reached capacity amid the nation's ongoing migrant crisis, according to data released Thursday, the Boston Herald reported.

The state's emergency shelters are equipped to provide temporary housing to 7,500 families. According to Democratic Governor Maura Healey, Massachusetts has reached its state-imposed capacity limit and must now begin turning people away. Families seeking shelter will be placed on a waitlist.

According to WCVB, 7,517 families are currently utilizing the state's shelter system as of Thursday afternoon. More than 3,800 families were placed in hotels, 3,650 in traditional shelters, and 61 in temporary emergency shelter spaces.

The limit will be implemented at the end of the day, according to Emergency Assistance Director General Scott Rice.

"Today, the family shelter system has reached 7,500 families, and we are at the point where we do not have enough shelter units, service providers, or funding to continue to safely expand," Rice said in a Thursday statement. "Families will continue to be placed into shelter until the end of the day, and beginning tomorrow, families will be placed into shelter as units become available. If there are no available shelter units, families determined eligible for emergency assistance will be placed on a waitlist. Our administration continues to provide arriving families with resources, basic necessities and support, and we are working with community partners to connect them with safe, overnight options."

Families with children up to three months old, those with medical conditions, high-risk pregnancies, or those using medical devices will be designated as the highest priority to receive shelter accommodations.

In August, Healey declared a state of emergency over the surge of migrants seeking shelter in Massachusetts. At the time, the governor stated that approximately 5,600 families were utilizing the state's shelter system. She urged the Biden administration to assist, calling the crisis a "national issue."

Later that month, Healey launched a plan to activate 250 National Guard members to assist by coordinating services, such as food, basic needs, transportation, and medical care.

Healey activated additional National Guard members earlier this week as the state prepared to reach shelter capacity. The governor also launched a $5 million grant program with the United Way of Massachusetts Bay to fund overnight safety-net shelters.

On Wednesday, lawmakers passed a $250 million bill to "support the commonwealth's response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the influx of families seeking shelter." The legislation commits $50 million to create one or more overflow sites.

According to House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D), lawmakers have considered utilizing the Hynes Convention Center as a potential overflow site.

"Where are these people gonna go? Where do they show up? Where do they spend the night when they come in here on a Friday night at seven o'clock? Are they gonna go just directly to the (Boston) Common and bed down for the night? Are they going to show up in the emergency room?" Mariano stated.

Massachusetts is the only state in the country with a right-to-shelter law.

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