|
FRAMINGHAM - The number of homeless refugees that have been
moved into Framingham has been increasing rapidly, as two new
waves of migrant families were recently brought in by the state
to local hotels.
During Wednesday's School Committee meeting, Mayor Charlie
Sisitsky said 10 new families were moved into the city the
previous day, and that eight more were moved in on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, city officials said in a press release that
Framingham is now housing more than 52 families in three hotels,
including "more than 30" that came in a third wave of arrivals.
"I want to alert everybody that this is a serious problem,"
Sisitsky told School Committee members. "It has the potential to
have a serious impact on the school system, and it is stretching
our ability to provide volunteers and supplies for these
families, while we wait for the state to ramp (up) our support."
Trapped in limbo:Haitian refugees in Worcester await permission
to work
The first wave of families were moved into Framingham on July
28, with no notice given to the city prior to their arrival.
That group of refugees included 14 families, many of whom are
ethnically Haitian, and arrived in Massachusetts seeking asylum
earlier this year.
Massachusetts is a right-to-shelter state, meaning it must
provide housing to homeless families who have at least one child
under age 21. Without enough shelters to house all of the
families, the state has been moving migrants into hotels as
temporary housing.
While social services to assist the first wave of families were
provided by Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, Sisitsky said
Wednesday that the organization reported that it's at max
capacity and cannot assist any new families, and the state is
providing little support at this time.
"We have heard that they are maxed out and they cannot take on
any more families," the mayor said of JFS. "We have tried to
communicate with the state to try and see what they can do, and
the state is basically overwhelmed with the number of families
coming in. They are trying to locate them throughout the
commonwealth and they are running out of space. We have no idea
where this is going, and we seem to be seeing this multiply by
the hour."
The three waves of refugees are living in three different
Framingham hotels, according to Sisitsky. The first wave was
originally brought to the Red Roof Inn on Cochituate Road, but
was moved last week into a suite-style hotel that provided more
living space and kitchenettes for the families.
There is no timetable for how long the families are expected to
remain in Framingham, although Lino Covarrubias, CEO of Jewish
Family Services, said his organization was told by the state
that the first wave of families will live in the city at least
through the end of this month.
Jewish Family Services is seeking gift cards to places such as
Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Stop & Shop, as well as cash
donations or VISA gift cards. Gift cards can be used by families
to purchase their own goods and supplies, and help teach them
how to access public transportation and navigate shopping in
Massachusetts.
Gift cards and donations can be dropped off or mailed to Jewish
Family Services, 475 Franklin St., Suite 101, Framingham 01702.
"We are going to have to find better ways to deal with this
situation, so these people don't end up sleeping on the street
with no place to turn and no support services," Sisitsky said.
With the first day of school coming up on Aug. 30, the city will
likely find itself tasked with sorting out education for
school-age children currently living in the hotels. Sisitsky
said Framingham is in the process of trying to learn more about
the students.
"We don't have any information on the kids," he said. "We
don't know anything about their medical backgrounds, what
their vaccination status is, or any other issues dealing with
their previous life," Sisitsky said. "We are trying to get
as much information as we can."
More illegals pouring in
City of Framingham Partners With Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association
Susan Scully Petroni
City of Framingham Public Information Officer
spetroni@framinghamma.gov
508-782-8629
City of Framingham Partners With Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association To Organize Donations For Refugee Families
FRAMINGHAM - The City of Framingham is partnering with the Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association to collect and organize donations for the refugee families in the City of Framingham in three hotels.
On Sunday, August 13, the City had 12 families with 39 individuals and 18 children in one hotel.
As of today, August 20, the City now has families in three hotels.
There are 10 families in a second hotel and more than 30 families in a third hotel.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has indicated to the City that more families are due in August and September.
Some of these families will be here until the end of September and some of these families will be here through the end of October. Both stays could also be extended by the Commonwealth.
With the first wave of families, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts had the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest oversee the families.
No provider has been assigned to the more than 40 families in the two additional hotels.
With the first set of families, the City organized and collected donations at two fire stations.
With now more than 40 families, the City is collaborating with Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association to collect donations at their churches, parishes, and temples.
Starting Monday, August 21, donations can be dropped off at Edwards Church at 39 Edwards Street in Saxonville on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon this week.
Temple Beth Sholom at 50 Pamela Road in Framingham will accept donations on Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon this week.
Additional churches, parishes, and temples will be added at a later date.
The families have no microwaves and no refrigerators in their rooms, for the most part. So we are only accepting the following donations:
Gov. Maura Healy declared a state of emergency in an attempt to address a state family
shelter system that is so over-capacity, thousands of migrant and homeless families
have been placed in hotel rooms across the state due to a shortage of shelter beds and
affordable housing units.
Recent state Division of Housing Stabilization data said just under 1,400 families were
being sheltered in hotels and motels across the state, with the state projecting that
number could grow to 2,800 by the end of August. There are an estimated 5,555
families - a total of 20,000 individuals - in the entire state shelter system, including hotels.
A humanitarian crisis in Framingham
The first wave of refugees arrived in Framingham on July 28 with
no notice to the city from the state. The first group of 14
families were dropped off at the Red Roof Inn.
Six weeks later, and two more waves: As of today, Framingham is
home to 130 individuals living in three different hotels,
including the Red Roof Inn. The state says more may arrive this
month.
Who are these individuals? The individuals, including many
families, are ethnically Haitian, but have lived in other
countries such as Chile and Brazil. They came to Massachusetts
seeking asylum. Since they lived in other countries, many of the
children speak Spanish, Portuguese or English. Massachusetts is
home to the third largest Haitian population in the country.
How are they being helped?: The state named Jewish Family
Services of MetroWest as care coordinators for the families at
the first hotel. JFS reached their max, and the city is pushing
for the state to name more coordinators to assist all families.
According to the Mayor at tonight's Council meeting, the city,
led by Public Information Officer, Susan Petroni, is 'struggling
to coordinate all of the volunteers and meals'. Two local
nonprofits were providing meals until last week when the state
hired a caterer in East Boston to provide food. Consistent meals
are still an issue.
Also according to the Mayor tonight, SMOC applied to be a
service provider. Once they have been named, then Petroni will
step down as coordinator.
What the Mayor said at the last School Committee meeting: "We
have heard that they (JFS) are maxed out and they cannot take on
any more families. We have tried to communicate with the state
to try and see what they can do, and the state is basically
overwhelmed with the number of families coming in. They are
trying to locate them throughout the Commonwealth and they are
running out of space. We have no idea where this is going, and
we seem to be seeing this multiply by the hour."
Massachusetts is a "right to shelter" state.
Section 30: Emergency housing assistance program
The state must provide housing to a homeless family who have at
least one child under 21.
This law went into effect in the early 1980s.
What is the city's role?: At the moment the city is coordinating
volunteers and nonprofits to provide meals, supplies and other
resources, and reimbursements from the state. The state is
paying for the hotels, meals and other resources. The state is
also paying for any education costs associated with any of the
children attending FPS.
The city is now partnering with the Framingham Interfaith
Community Association, a collective of local religious groups,
to organize donations. The Framingham Emergency Relief Fund
started during the pandemic by the Foundation for MetroWest, was
reactivated in order to provide emergency funding and
reimbursement to nonprofits that are assisting those in need.
How can you help: Donate today to the Framingham Emergency
Relief Fund:
Online: Visit www.communityfoundationmw.org/donate and choose
"Framingham Emergency Relief Fund" from the dropdown menu.
By mail: Send a check payable to The Community Foundation for
MetroWest with "Framingham Emergency Relief Fund" in the memo
line to 3 Eliot Street, Natick, MA 01760.
|