Homeless shelter providers in Massachusetts are expressing concerns as lawmakers consider passing legislation that would impose a nine-month limit on family stays in shelters. This would be the first time such a limit is implemented in the state's 40-year history of the 'right to shelter' law. Massachusetts is currently the only state that provides families and pregnant women with a right to shelter. However, the system has been strained due to an increase in migrant families and the growing number of Massachusetts families displaced by the unaffordable housing market. The Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Senate have both passed spending bills outlining plans to address the shelter crisis, but negotiations are needed to reconcile their differences. The sticking points include the type of extensions that can be granted to families and how the proposals will be funded. Shelter directors are advocating for meaningful extensions beyond the initial nine months, as the average length of stays for families is currently about 16 months. The influx of migrant families has further stressed the system, and shelter leaders are calling for improvements in the federal government's system for granting work permits to these families. While there are concerns about families being forced out of shelters without alternative housing options, shelter leaders support lawmakers' efforts to address the situation as the system continues to struggle. [1a4a3db3]
In New York City, a recent audit by the city's comptroller has found that the policy imposing 60-day limits on shelter stays for migrant families was rolled out haphazardly over the past six months. The policy was never actually written down or communicated properly to agencies, shelter providers, or the women themselves. Women in their last trimester of pregnancy were exempted from the policy, but this exemption was not properly communicated. The city's policy allows families to reapply for shelter beds, although it doesn't guarantee another bed. Educators and families reported that they didn't receive the courtesy of being placed in or near the districts where their children are enrolled. The comptroller urged the mayor to suspend the 60-day rule until the end of the school semester. The report did not document housing, health, or educational outcomes for immigrants leaving a shelter. The mayor's office defended the 60-day eviction notices as a tool to nudge migrants out of shelters. New York is legally obligated to provide shelter to all people who ask for it, and U.S. schools are legally obligated to enroll immigrant students who are minors. Immigrant advocates say they're having to help hundreds of parents individually negotiate with shelter officials to let them stay in their neighborhood. [1d218a1c]