Massachusetts residents are outraged by recently announced plans to convert a former housing unit for Boston-area veterans into a homeless shelter while the city is inundated with immigrants.
Democratic Governor Maura Healey revealed that the government will convert the former Chelsea Soldiers’ Home facility, which is vacant and scheduled for demolition, into a safety net site in April.
It will be able to house 100 families who are eligible for the state’s Emergency Assistance family shelter system, which has been operating at full capacity for months.
Bay State residents, however, are furious that the former veterans housing facility is being converted into a migrant shelter when on a single night in 2023 there were 545 homeless veterans in Massachusetts, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development from USA
Local Dick McGrath said on Facebook: “Is it just me, or is there something wrong with placing immigrants in the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home instead of homeless veterans?”
Massachusetts residents are outraged by recently announced plans to convert a former housing unit for Boston-area veterans (pictured) into a homeless shelter.
The state’s shelters reached capacity in November, with 7,500 families in its system. Hundreds of immigrants were forced to sleep at the airport in January
Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said the government will convert the former Chelsea Soldiers’ Home facility, which is vacant and slated for demolition, into a safety net site in April.
George Belmonte said: “I can’t believe that the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home, which is for veterans, is going to be used for the overflow of immigrants.” How about we take care of the homeless veterans first? I’m all for helping people, but how about we take care of those who are already here and those who are homeless?’
Bay Stater Eileen Jeffrey said on Facebook: “The Chelsea Soldiers’ Home is now an immigrant shelter; there are thousands of homeless veterans. You’re kidding!”
Grace Curley, radio host for Boston radio station WRKO, said Fox News: “This won’t be a kumbaya moment, it will probably create a lot of problems and there will be a lot of unhappy people out there.”
Mike Junior said, “They were supposed to tear down that building, but let’s put the immigrants in there, not our own soldiers, not our own people, not the ones who FIGHTED for OUR FREEDOM.”
Blake Habyan said on Twitter: ‘Illegals are being prioritized over American citizens. Who will they take away next?
Secretary of Veterans Services Dr. Jon Santiago insisted that transforming the site will not affect services for veterans.
“Massachusetts has shown that we can care for homeless veterans and families in our state,” Santiago said.
“While EOVS previously operated the building slated for demolition, this project operates independently and will not impact daily routines or services at the Massachusetts Veterans Home in Chelsea.”
Governor Healey announced on March 25 that families will be required to document their participation in case management and rehousing efforts monthly to remain eligible to remain in a state safety net site beginning May 1.
On March 22, the Massachusetts Senate approved limits on how long homeless families can stay in state emergency shelters as part of an $850 million plan to fund the system at the center of the immigration crisis.
The maximum stay was limited to nine months with the possibility of an additional 90 days for veterans, pregnant women and people who are employed or enrolled in a job training program.
The Melnea Cass Recreation Center in Roxbury was closed to the local community and converted into a homeless shelter for 400 immigrants in February.
Healey said families will need to document their participation in case management and rehousing efforts monthly to remain eligible to remain in shelters.
The Melnea Cass Recreation Center in Roxbury was closed to the local community and converted into a homeless shelter for 400 immigrants in February.
Boston City Councilwoman Julia Mejia told NBC10 Boston that residents should consider housing immigrants in their private homes to combat the crisis.
Grace Curley, a radio host for Boston radio station WRKO, told Fox News that asking residents to house immigrants will cause a lot of problems.
In January, hundreds of migrants were forced to sleep on the floor of Boston’s Logan International Airport with nowhere else to go.
Massachusetts shelters reached capacity in November, with 7,500 families in their system.
Boston City Councilwoman Julia Mejía said NBC10 Boston that residents should consider housing migrants in their private homes to combat the crisis.
‘Dedham, Wellesley, Brookline: cities and towns that have many more resources than the city of Boston. “The people who really have more financial support, we need to do everything in our power to make sure we’re setting them up for success or whatever success looks like,” Mejia said.