Massachusetts
Does Massachusetts’ right to shelter law need to change?
BOSTON – Michael Dukakis was the longest serving governor in Massachusetts history. He signed many bills into law. But the law everyone is talking about these days is the “right to shelter” law, which Dukakis made a law in 1983.
The law guaranteed emergency housing to homeless families and pregnant women. It did not include homeless individuals.
In defining eligibility, the law said a “resident” was “any person in the Commonwealth, even if they didn’t intend on staying permanently.” It also said, “a person who comes here solely for these benefits would not be considered a resident.”
I asked Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin if 40 years later, the law needs to be changed. “Do I think the law should be changed? I do,” Galvin said.
Mayor Galvin says in 1983, no one could have envisioned what’s happening today. Woburn is housing 150 migrant families in four hotels. There are 65 migrant children in the city’s schools with younger siblings on the way.
“When the law was passed it was to deal with homeless people who lived in the state at the time. Again, it was well intentioned. It served a lot of homeless people very well,” Galvin said.
For decades, the state has mainly used traditional shelters. The statistics we got, which start in 2009, show after the financial crisis, about 2000 homeless families were provided emergency housing. That number grew steadily long before the influx of migrants. It’s now more than 3500 in traditional shelters. The only dip was in the pandemic when fewer people were being evicted.
But the change in the number of families put up in hotels is staggering. In 2009, there were about 650 families in hotels. Two years ago, it was less than a dozen. And now there are almost 3,000 families in hotels. A majority of them are migrants.
By using the original requirements from 1983, how are they eligible? The state says you are not eligible unless you provide some type of acknowledgement that the federal government knows you are here.
Republican State Rep Peter Durant doesn’t think that matches the original intent of the law. So, he wants it scrapped or at least tweaked. “I think that we need to kind of just clean this up, we need to make sure that it’s specifically for those who need this help that are residents and citizens of Massachusetts,” Durant said.
Rep. Durant says the current price tag of $40 million per month cannot continue.
“They need a place, we certainly don’t want them out on the street but this law was never intended to just be a magnet for anybody that happens to come into the state,” Durant said.
I asked Governor Healey’s office whether the law needs to be updated. I got a statement saying: “Right to shelter is the law, and the governor will review any legislation that reaches her desk. This law was established under very different circumstances from what we are experiencing today, and the current demand on the system is unsustainable.”
Sarang Sekavat is with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, a group helping migrants get the services they need. He thinks the law is working exactly as intended.
“The idea has always been to help out families and really to make sure that children aren’t suffering when their parents fall are on hard times and that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now,” Sekavat said.
Mayor Galvin says his biggest issue is not all cities and towns are sharing the burden. It’s mainly the ones with hotels. There are 91 communities currently providing emergency shelter. There are 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. So, there are 260 communities who aren’t providing shelter.
“When I look around to communities around me, you know the area I’ve got Lexington, Wilmington, Reading, Stoneham, Winchester, they are not seeing any children in their schools,” Galvin said. “I think they all should be sharing in this challenge.”
If you have a question you’d like us to look into, please email questioneverything@cbsboston.com.
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Massachusetts
Naughty list: Massachusetts ‘idiot’ gets stuck in chimney while trying to evade police
Ho-ho-no!
A Massachusetts man got himself stuck inside a chimney while trying to evade cops Tuesday night in a failed attempt to channel Ol’ Saint Nick.
Officers with the Fall River Police Department attempted to conduct a raid of the man’s Canal Street home in the small New England town — only to be led on a Christmas goose chase.
As the cops knocked on the front door, they saw two men fleeing the home via the roof, according to 10WJAR.
One lept off the roof while the other, Robert Langlias, hopped down the chimney in a maneuver seemingly inspired by Father Christmas.
“[One man] invoked the essence of the seasonal icon and attempted to hide inside of a chimney,” police said in a statement. “[He] quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing.”
Bodycam footage shared by the police department shows the moment the responding police officers scaled the roof and confronted Langlias who was deep in the flue.
“You’re an idiot,” said an officer wielding a flashlight as the camera panned down to Langlias, 33, wedged inside the base of the chimney.
The officers confirmed that the suspect was in fact stuck, but able to breathe while they called for the fire department to come and rescue the wannabe Santa Claus.
“Get me out of here, bro!” Langlias pleaded with the same cops he had tried to hide from, according to the footage.
Firefighters can be seen in the video taking apart the chimney brick-by-brick from inside the home as Langlias helplessly waited to be taken into custody.
“Due to his Santa-antics, Langlias was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared,” police said.
The other wanted party jumped off the roof, onto a car, and lammed it before cops could make an arrest and remains at large.
Langlias has been charged with possession of Class A drugs, possession of Class B drugs and a bevy of charges stemming from outstanding warrants.
Tanisha Ibay, 32, is also facing Class A and Class B drug possession charges stemming from the incident after being arrested at the property with little fanfare.
Matt Breen, Shawsheen — After averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game last year, the 6-foot-9-inch senior forward is primed for another big season. He’s a mobile big man who excels as a rim protector.
Will Carty, Watertown — A dominant force in the paint, the 6-10 center averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game last season. His presence makes the Raiders a threat in Division 3.
James Dingman, Arlington — The senior is positioned for another stellar season after averaging 20 points per game last season. At 6-3, he’s a versatile wing who can slash to the rim and shoot over the top.
Mike Dankert and Nate Reynolds, Bourne — The two 1,000-point scorers return for their senior seasons after powering the Canalmen to the Division 4 final. Reynolds is the reigning South Coast Conference MVP after averaging 20.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game last year. A versatile wing, Dankert put up 18 points per game.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Matt Gaffney, Malden Catholic — The Naval Academy-bound senior point guard paced the Golden Tornadoes to their third consecutive Division 2 title last year. He has Malden Catholic poised to make a run at a historic fourth.
Javi Lopez, Central Catholic — After averaging 19 points and six rebounds for the Raiders, the 6-1 junior enters the season as one of the state’s premier guards.
JJ Martinez, St. Mary’s — A returning Globe All-Scholastic, Martinez averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Now a junior, he has started for the Spartans since eighth grade.
Caden Sullivan, Franklin — The Panthers are a Division 1 favorite once again, and Sullivan is a major reason why. The 6-1 senior guard averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.7 steals last season, and is committed to play at Endicott.
Teagan Swint, Newton North — The reigning Bay State Carey MVP, Swint is one of the state’s most dynamic scorers. A 6-4 senior guard, he averaged 24 points and seven rebounds per game.
Other names to know: G Isaiah Andino (Methuen), F Niko Catalano (North Andover), G Jack Charchaflian (Winchester), F Sam Concemi (Andover), G Aaron Cote (Wareham), G Jaydaan Correia (Cambridge), F Carson Gretz (Newburyport), G Justin Marino (Medford), Jack Millward (Wakefield), G Sam Myerberg (Lexington), G Brandon Nicastro (King Philip)
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