"Massachusetts Residents Urged to Aid Migrants in Housing Crisis"

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Gov. Maura Healey have called on state residents to open their homes and offer housing to migrants as the state faces a shortage of shelters. Healey declared a state of emergency due to the increasing number of families and pregnant individuals, many of whom are newly arriving migrants and refugees, without safe shelter. The state is currently providing emergency housing to nearly 5,600 families or over 20,000 people. The officials attribute the migrant crisis to federal immigration policies, lack of affordable housing, and the end of COVID-era programs. They hope the emergency declaration will lead to more federal funding and expedite work permits for immigrants.