Support New Arrivals (Amid the Massachusetts Shelter Crisis)

August 2024

On July 23rd the Healey Administration announced that it would be making significant changes to how homeless families access the state Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system. Beginning today, August 1, the four overflow shelter sites are becoming Temporary Respite Shelters (TRCs). Families will be restricted to stays at the TRCs of no more than five business days, and if they opt for this option, they will not be eligible to apply for EA shelter for six months. The Administration communicated that no additional TRCs will be opened. If families do not stay at a TRC, they will be eligible to apply for EA immediately and be placed on the EA Contact List (the new term for the wait list). It is likely that there will be a several month wait for placement into EA.

MIRA is very concerned about this policy change and the impact on vulnerable new immigrant families. The MIRA team and so many more advocates throughout Massachusetts are working hard to convey our Coalition’s concerns to the Administration and work toward a more sustainable solution. We are working on communications materials and would like to include any donation drives, calls for volunteers, or other resources your organization is working on. Please fill out this form to share initiatives with us.

In the meantime, here are some ways you can continue to support our newly arrived immigrants and their families. *Please note this webpage will be updated as we receive more news and resources from the community.

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✨Become a Host: Consider opening up your home and hosting an individual or family in need. Contact the Brazilian Worker Center if interested in hosting.

✨Rent to immigrants: the Landlord Incentive Program that Boston offers, which supports landlords who rent to Boston households moving out of homelessness. The city provides signing bonuses, pays broker fees, pays cleaning fees, gives unit retention bonuses, and provides direct access to dedicated support for both the tenant AND the landlord. Find out more information here. 

✨Support Local Pro-Immigrant Organizations: Make a purchase or organize a gift drive to purchase and donate items for newly arrived families. See a list of community-based organizations receiving donations on our website here. 

  • MIRA would love to feature more organizations who are taking donations for new arrivals. If you know any organizations who are supporting new arrivals, please fill out this form to share initiatives with us.

✨Speak to your local elected officials: The people who can have the most immediate and lasting impact on this situation are our elected officials. You can use your voice by:

✨Other ways to support:

More Information coming soon! Thank you for considering to support our newly arrived immigrant individuals and families.