The number of homeless families seeking emergency shelter in Massachusetts is rapidly approaching a critical threshold, according to Democratic Governor Maura Healey. Once this threshold of 7,500 families is reached, the state will no longer be able to accommodate them and will instead place families on a waitlist, giving priority to those with the highest needs. Although Healey emphasizes that she does not want to see families out on the street, she asserts that the state has essentially reached its shelter capacity.

One factor contributing to the spike in demand for emergency shelter is the influx of migrant families entering the state. Massachusetts joins other areas, including Chicago and New York City, that are also struggling to handle the surge of migrant families seeking shelter. New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced that he is limiting shelter stays for migrant families with children to 60 days. In Chicago, officials are attempting to relocate migrants seeking asylum from police stations and the city's airports to winterized camps with large tents.

As of Wednesday, the number of families in emergency shelter in Massachusetts stood at 7,488. Critics argue that Healey's decision to cap shelter placements violates the state's “right-to-shelter” law, which legally requires Massachusetts to provide emergency shelter to eligible families. Under Healey's plan, priority will be given to women, young children, and those with acute medical needs and health issues. The state is also considering implementing time limits on how long a family can stay in a shelter.

With winter approaching, officials are scrambling to prevent families from ending up on the streets. The state has prepared a flyer to hand out to families denied shelter, which suggests a few options, including returning to their last safe place. On Tuesday, Healey announced a $5 million grant program to assist local organizations in creating overnight shelter for families and pregnant individuals who have no other options. Massachusetts lawmakers are also considering a bill that would allocate $50 million to establish one or more locations where homeless families could find temporary refuge while waiting for a shelter space. Democratic House Speaker Ronald Mariano suggested using a single large site, such as the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, or several smaller sites spread throughout the state.

Advocates for the homeless have expressed concerns that denying families emergency shelter could force them into unsafe living conditions. They have pressed the Legislature to approve funding for a large living site similar to the one described by Mariano. Kelly Turley, director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, emphasized the need for congregate shelters to be available given the state's right to shelter for the past 40 years.

Meanwhile, advocates welcoming new migrants to the state are also worried about how to assist those who have no friends or family and nowhere to stay. Geralde Gabeau, executive director of the Immigrant Family Services Institute in Boston, questioned whether it is right to send people, especially those with babies, to the streets. Gabeau emphasized the need for a place to send them.

Currently, homeless families in Massachusetts are housed in various locations across 90 cities and towns, ranging from traditional shelters to temporary sites like college dorms. The state's Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities recently issued guidance on the forthcoming changes to the shelter system. Families at imminent risk of domestic violence or with an infant up to 3 months old, family members with immunocompromised conditions, high-risk pregnancies, or family members with medical devices such as tracheostomy tubes will be given top priority. Additional priority levels will consider the age and medical needs of family members. Families will be offered available shelter units based on their position on the waitlist, which will be refreshed daily. Families on the waitlist for six months or longer will undergo another assessment.