August 26, 2023 (Eastham, MA) – Earlier this month, Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency for lack of housing/shelter services for Massachusetts residents and families. The crisis has been growing for the past year, due to a lack of affordable housing options and the end of COVID-era food and housing security programs. These factors have forced many residents into homelessness, and the problem is exacerbated
by an increase in migrant families fleeing from conditions in their home countries. Emergency shelter services are designed to be a temporary safety-net. As demand has increased, the length of time families are spending in shelters is growing due to the larger housing crisis. The Governor has asked the federal government for assistance and is asking all the communities of the commonwealth to assist in any way they can.
“I am calling on all of our partners – from cities and towns to the faith community, philanthropic organizations, and human service providers – to rise to this challenge and do whatever you can to help us meet this moment” said Governor Maura Healey.
The Town of Eastham, the
Lower Cape Outreach Council and
Outer Cape Health Services, along with other local social service agencies are assisting several Massachusetts families who were placed here by the Commonwealth. These families are in the shelter system for a temporary period until they can find shelter closer to their home communities. Despite the press reports, most of these families are not migrant families. While these families are temporarily in Eastham, we want to ensure that they are safe, and are treated with the dignity and respect we would all want for our own families.
If you would like to help locally, please support our partners in this effort with donations:
(Food pantry, financial assistance, outreach)
(Navigator program, medical care, behavioral health)
If you would like to learn more, or help the state:
Anyone who can help should contact the state at shelterhelp@mass.gov or by dialing 211, which will be monitored by MEMA.