WESTBOROUGH – A sudden influx of homeless families – and the challenges they bring – was a big topic of discussion at the Aug. 8 Select Board meeting.
Over the weekend of Aug. 4-6, the town was notified by the state that nine families had been placed in a Westborough hotel.
According to Town Manager Kristi Williams, the families were placed with no on-site provider, meaning the town had to come up with a system to meet the families’ immediate needs aside from lunch and dinner, which are being provided by the state.
Within a few days, the town compiled a list of needed items, with the Westborough Fire Department as the dropoff point. Also, several residents stepped up to act as translators in Spanish or Haitian Creole.
“The town did an incredible job,” said Select Board Chair Sean Keogh. “They took what could have been a tough situation and made it better.”
Westborough is among 80 communities where families – many from Haiti – are being placed in emergency housing. In neighboring Southborough, 18 families – about 60 people in total – were placed in a local hotel.
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Other communities, including Northborough, Marlborough, Hudson and Shrewsbury have also had families placed in their hotels.
On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency over the influx of asylum-seeking families. She said that 5,600 families – about 20,000 individuals – are currently being housed in the Commonwealth. That is a nearly 80 percent increase over last year.
“Our legislative delegation has been wonderful,” said Williams.
Among other accomplishments, the delegation set up a meeting with Ed Augustus, the secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, to discuss how to better handle the influx of families.
“There is a need for communication,” said Williams.
“The state is struggling with resources,” said Select Board member Allen Edinberg. “This is not going to be a quick fix.”
“The state must improve its support, communication to local officials and legislators, and civic groups and religious institutions about how we can all make homeless families, refugees and immigrants feel peace and security in Massachusetts,” said state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, who assisted the families staying in Southborough.
Williams also provided an update on the shelter on Lyman Street being built by the state. She said it is scheduled to open at the end of August; it will house 20 families with an on-site provider to help coordinate their needs.
Although the initial donation drive is done, Williams recommended that residents check the town website for updates.
For any inquiries related to this emergency need, please contact Williams at [email protected].
