SHREWSBURY – Families currently housed at the shelter at the former Days Inn on Route 9 will soon move to 235 Boston Turnpike, the former site of the Worcester City Motel.
Town Manager Kevin Mizikar made the announcement at the June 25 Select Board meeting. The movement of families will happen “over the summer,” said Mizikar.
While Mizikar did not go into specifics regarding how long the families will be staying at the motel, he said the state was shifting resources around and the shelter would likely be a “longer-term stay environment.”
“We will, of course, work with all town officials and continue our relationship with the state and this new provider to make sure that this transition is as smooth as possible, especially for those with school-age children,” said Mizikar.
In June 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development placed 16 families in a Shrewsbury lodging facility until further notice. Last September, the Community Advocate reported that there were roughly 80 families in lodging facilities, including about 50 students.
Massachusetts is the country’s only “right to shelter” state, meaning that “low-income Massachusetts families who meet certain eligibility requirements have a legal right to shelter.”
