Boston To Place Illegal Immigrants In Veterans Housing Amid Influx
Massachusetts residents are expressing outrage over recently disclosed plans to repurpose a former Boston area veteran housing unit into a homeless shelter amidst an influx of immigrants.
The Daily Mail reports Democrat Governor Maura Healey unveiled the government’s intention to convert the vacant Chelsea Soldiers’ Home facility, slated for demolition, into a “safety-net site” in April.
Fox News reports the move aims to address capacity constraints as Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice highlights the strain on resources amid a nationwide immigration crisis.
This facility will accommodate 100 families eligible for the state’s Emergency Assistance family shelter system, which has been consistently operating at full capacity for months.
Governor Healey announced on March 25th that families must document their engagement in case management and rehousing efforts monthly to maintain eligibility at a state safety-net site, effective May 1st.
On March 22nd, the Massachusetts Senate approved limits on the duration homeless families can stay in emergency state shelters as part of an $850 million plan to fund the system central to the migrant crisis.
The maximum stay was capped at nine months, with the potential for an additional 90 days for veterans, pregnant women, and individuals who are employed or participating in a job training program.
Bay State residents are incensed by the decision, with much of their fury stemming from the fact that on a single night in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 545 veterans experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts.
“Is it me, or is there something wrong with putting migrants in the Chelsea Soldiers Home instead of homeless veterans?” wrote one resident on Facebook.
“I can’t believe the Chelsea soldiers home which is for the Vets is going to used for the immigrants overflow,” lamented another. “How about taking care of the homeless Vets first. I am all for helping people but how about taking care of those already here and homeless.”
“This isn’t going to be a kumbaya moment,” a radio host for Boston radio station WRKO said, “this is probably going to create a lot of issues and there’s going to be a lot of unhappy people out there.”
In February, Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia told NBC10 Boston that residents should consider housing migrants in their private homes to battle the influx of immigrants.
“Dedham, Wellesley, Brookline — cities and towns that have so much more resources than the city of Boston. People who actually have more financial support, we need to do everything in our power to make sure that we are setting them up for success or whatever success looks like,” Mejia said.
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