Salem Officials Sign Letter Opposing State Shelter 5-Day Limit Policy

SALEM, MA — Salem City Councilor Kyle Davis is one of eight Salem City Councilors and School Committee members — out of more than 100 councilors across the state — who signed a letter sent to Gov. Maura Healey criticizing her five-day shelter limit policy as harming families "by forcing them into dangerous and unsustainable situations."

"Five days is simply far too short of a time frame for individuals and families in crisis to find
and secure long-term, quality, affordable housing," Davis told Patch. "We have been working
as a coalition of leaders representing over 30 communities in the state to communicate to the governor and the legislature that our unhoused neighbors deserve better."

Salem City Councilors Jeff Cohen, Caroline Watson-Felt, Andrew Varela and Alice Merkl, along with School Committee members Beth Ann Cornell, Veronica Miranda and AJ Hoffman, who signed the letter.

Gov. Healey cited a lack of adequate space and funding from the federal government in implementing the policy after state-run shelters quickly reached capacity over the past year.

"Massachusetts is the second-most expensive state in the United States," said the letter, which was provided to Patch. "After months of apartment search, most families can barely find anything affordable and healthy. How are they supposed to sign a lease in five days? How should shelter families find safe and affordable apartments after just nine months?

"We understand that the state has limitations regarding providing shelter to people and families seeking refuge in Massachusetts, especially in the absence of meaningful action by the federal government. Forcing families into unsustainable solutions, like temporary overcrowded conditions, does not equal to safe or permanent housing."

The letter argues that "housing is a human right" with the councilors saying "we cannot sit idly by when faced with a policy that has resulted in young children being forced to sleep on our city streets, apartment hallways, emergency rooms, parks, cars and vacant commercial stores."

Housing is a human right, and we cannot sit idly by when faced with a policy that has resulted in young children being forced to sleep on our city streets, apartment hallways, Emergency Rooms, parks, cars and vacant commercial stores.

The letter claimed that the policy, instead of working to solve the shelter crisis, "has harmed families by forcing them into dangerous and unsustainable situations."

The letter notes that the re-election of President Donald Trump could well add to the challenges facing immigrants.

"We also know that this policy will increase the stigma, hate, and anti-migrant rhetoric against migrants at a time when the President-elect has fomented the hate against immigrants and laid out plans for mass deportations," the letter said. "We appreciate your public commitment for Massachusetts to not participate in mass deportation. It is now more critical than ever to protect families with children from immigrant communities who are experiencing homelessness, in addition to anyone with no safe options."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)