Massachusetts – Homeless Housed In Hotels Reminded of Safety Regulations after Fire Breaks Out in Western Mass. Quality Inn – The Insanity of the DHCD

FromThe Springfield Republican: 32 homeless families housed at a Quality Inn in West Springfield, MA were given a reminder not to cook in hotel rooms after a fire broke out the night before. Massachusetts routinely houses homeless families in hotel rooms, racking up two million dollars a month in taxpayer funded hotel bills. Surely, with $24 million dollars a year, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts could purchase and renovate buildings suitable for short and long-term stays of families, include resources for education and hire those that are housed (and able to work), and even save a few bucks. There should be sane measures in place to lift up, not house those who, through illness, and or lack of education are forced to literally live in the streets. From a “but for the Grace of God” perspective, anyone can experience the loss of income and the subsequent loss of a home; therefore, the concept of housing homeless families in hotel and motel rooms throughout the state should have been a temporary measure, until the State could, again, use existing vacant buildings, and or existing homeless shelters, expand those for family units, and re-educate or educate those that are able, and give dignity to families who are now crammed like cattle into mid-priced hotel rooms across the Bay State.

Several State Legislators have tried to solve the problem; apparently, they were not taken seriously by the powers that be on Beacon Hill. A 10 point plan submitted by State Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield, and state Rep. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield is outlined below: (From the Republican Webite:

10-point plan to address the placement of homeless families in hotels and motels, as outlined by state Sen. Stephen J. Buoniconti and state Rep. James T. Welch, both D-West Springfield.
1. Require the Department of Housing and Community Development to submit a report to the Legislature within 30 days that will detail a plan to eliminate the policy of housing homeless families in hotels and motels within one year. This will eliminate an ineffective policy that costs taxpayers nearly $36 million per year.
2. Develop specific residency requirements for families seeking shelter. Require the person seeking shelter to provide a minimum of one piece of documentation that clearly shows that their last known address is inside Massachusetts. For example: utility bill, bank statement, driver’s license.
3. Change current language that states that a woman automatically qualifies for emergency family shelter once she becomes pregnant to once the woman gives birth. A pregnant woman would still be eligible for standard homeless shelters up to that point (a shelter provides better structure and resources for a pregnant woman as she is preparing for birth).
4. Remove language that states the DHCS does not have have authority to make regulatory changes to their policies regarding homelessness unless the account is running at a deficit.
5. Waive the 20-mile rule that states a family must be placed within 20 miles of their last known address.
6. Families will receive only one option. If the option is refused, they must wait one year before reapplying for shelter.
7. If DHCD places a family in a hotel, DHCD will be responsible for notifying the community’s Health Department, Police Department and School Department (if school-aged children) within 24 hours of placement.
8. DHCD must conduct a search of all open shelter space that is currently idle in Massachusetts. If a shelter is available, but not being utilized and is up to code, DHCD must ask for a request for proposals.
9. If DHCD places a family with a child under the age of 3 in a hotel or motel, it must notify the state Department of Children and Family Services. The Department of Children and Family Services must then contact the hotel to ensure that the room that is being provided is equipped with a crib that meets all safety codes. The Department of Children and Family Services must then inspect the room with 24 hours of placement. If the hotel has failed to provide a crib that meets standards, it will be subject to a $10,000 fine.
10. The Department of Housing and Community Development will be required to reimburse communities for each pupil that is bused out of district while placed in a hotel. Each School Department must keep a list of students that are being bused from a hotel to a neighboring community and submit a request for payment on a quarterly basis.

There are several problems with the current system included in the outline above, which just leap off the page – specifically, the fact that no documentation of residency is required, and that pregnant women are warehoused in hotels, again, when a suitable alternative could be built for less.
For example a listing for a 72 room motel in Springfield, close to a community college, is listed for $1.5 million. Hotels from Hyannis to Pittsfield are on the block with price tags that would require an initial investment, yet in the long term, save the Commonwealth a chunk of change in the long-run. All things considered, specifically the reception Rep’s. Walsh and Buoniconti received from the State, surely the DHCD could come up with something more cost effective and safe could be done to ensure that more homeless families could be served with dignity and hope of a future.

Vide from Local News Affiliate WWLP