The federal government will spend nearly $2 million to house newly-arrived migrant families in Massachusetts.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is making the expenditure so the Bay State can expand shelter and transportation services for these migrants, Governor Maura Healey’s administration announced.
The city of Boston and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services teamed up to apply for the funding earlier in the summer.
Boston will use the funding to house eligible families in shelters and hotel rooms, while the state government will fund leases for housing at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, which also serves as a Family Welcome Center.
“Our Administration will continue to use every resource at our disposal to address the unprecedented rise in migrant families arriving in our state in need of housing and services,” Healey said in a written statement. “We’re grateful for the partnership of Mayor Wu and her administration to secure this critical funding for shelter and transportation. We thank FEMA for awarding us these funds and look forward to future collaboration with the federal government to address this crisis through increased funding, streamlined work authorizations, and comprehensive immigration reform.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll said the funding shows the administration’s commitment to providing shelter for those who come to Massachusetts.
“This emergency requires all levels of government coming to the table to make sure we are providing families in Massachusetts with safe shelter and services,” Driscoll said in the written statement. “This grant is a strong example of our how administration is pursuing every avenue to secure funding and ensure we can meet the needs of our communities. We’re grateful to the Wu administration and FEMA for their partnership.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu praised the Healey administration for working with the city on this issue.
“I’m grateful to Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, and their administration for their leadership on this crisis and partnership in securing this crucial funding that will continue to help Boston and the Commonwealth address the needs of families,” Wu said in the press release. “We are thankful to FEMA for awarding this funding and look forward to continuing to collaborate with federal partners on work authorizations, additional funding, and reforming our immigration system to welcome and support families in a dignified way.”
Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts earlier this month because of an increasing number of migrant families coming to the state and a lack of shelter availability for them.
“The declaration served as a notice to the federal government and the Commonwealth that the state’s shelter system is rapidly expanding capacity in an unsustainable manner, and that further assistance is urgently needed,” the press release said.
More than 5,800 families are in state shelters, according to the press release.
New to NewBostonPost? Conservative media is hard to find in Massachusetts. But you’ve found it. Now dip your toe in the water for two bucks — $2 for two months. And join the real revolution.
