BOSTON — Massachusetts will begin imposing limits on how long families Americans without home They can remain in shelters as the state continues to deal with the arrival of large numbers of migrants.
Others States They have also faced problems with their homeless shelter programs because the funds are allocated to address the wave of migrants.
New York lawmakers recently approved a $237 billion state budget that includes plans to boost housing construction and address the crisis migratory. Chicago has invested more than $300 million in local, state and federal funds to provide housing, health care and education for more than 38,000 migrants, mostly South Americans, who have arrived in the city since 2022.
Hostel limits
In light of the crisis, Massachusetts has determined that beginning June 1, the total stay will be limited to nine months, at the end of which families will be eligible for a maximum of two 90-day extensions, under a supplemental budget that was approved by state lawmakers and signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Maura Healey.
The law also requires the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to develop a relocation plan and manage the cases of all individuals within shelters after their departure from the program. The plan must be recertified every 60 days for families to remain eligible.
Extensions would be granted based on circumstances such as employment status or participation in a job training program, veteran status, imminent housing assignment, avoiding academic interruptions for children in public schools, pregnancy or recent childbirth.
Extensions may also be offered to those who have been diagnosed with a disability or health condition, if they are single parents caring for a minor or family member, single parents without appropriate child care services, and all those who are at risk of domestic violence.
Families nearing the end of their tenure may be eligible for a hardship waiver, and all families must receive 90 days’ notice before the state ends benefits.
“Responsible step”
Governor Healey called the caps “a responsible step to address our fiscal capacity and constraints as Congress has continued to fail to take action toward immigration reform.”
The bill Healey signed also includes $251 million to cover shelter costs for the fiscal year ending June 30, including $10 million for approved job training programs and $10 million in tax credits for companies. that provide job training to homeless families.
Source: With information from AFP
