Gov. Maura Healey reduced the cap on the number of families allowed in the state-run shelter system by 1,700 and released regulations that require applicants to the program to consent to a local criminal background check or be barred from receiving benefits.
homeless
Security scrub of Massachusetts emergency shelters finds flaws
Safety policies for state-run shelters are inconsistent, security presence at sites vary “significantly,” and a lack of coordination between state officials, providers, and police hinders the ability to share information about residents’ backgrounds, a report released Friday said.
DCR officials report rise in unauthorized encampments along state-owned property
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation officials said they are seeing a rise in unhoused people and unauthorized encampments along state-owned property, a situation that has created public health, safety, and environmental risks.
‘It’s what Christmas is all about’: St. Francis House serves ‘whole lot of love’ to Boston’s surging homeless population
As St. Francis House continues to see an “unprecedented” number of people in need of its services, Boston’s largest day shelter remains committed to its mission, evidenced by its annual Christmas tradition on Wednesday.
Historic Boston building being renovated to help better address increasing homelessness
Renovating the historic building that it has operated out of for the past 40 years will help St. Francis House better meet the needs of Boston’s surging homeless population, according to shelter employees.
Kennedy, Miller vie for 1st Middlesex Senate District seat
LOWELL — Incumbent Democratic state Sen. Ed Kennedy is facing Republican challenger Karla Miller in the race for the 1st Middlesex District seat, which serves the five communities of Lowell, Dracut, Dunstable, Pepperell and Tyngsboro.
