Expert explains concerns about Massachusetts’ new 5-day emergency shelter rule

A day shelter in Mattapan offers newly arrived Haitian migrants a safe place, but once night falls, new rules implemented at overflowing emergency shelters mean many may be on their own.

“We are very concerned that people will be left homeless and have nowhere to stay,” said Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of the International Institute of New England.

He helps resettle migrants and understands the financial constraints that the uninterrupted flow of new migrants is placing on a system already on the brink of collapse, but he is concerned about the new five-day rule requiring people to leave the system.

5-day stay limit, plane tickets to leave: New emergency shelter rules take effect in Massachusetts

“And we’re concerned that people don’t have a strategy or enough time to plan what to do next. Five days is a very, very short time,” Thielman said.

But some families will be prioritized.

• Families experiencing a no-fault eviction will be given priority over overflow sites

• Or if they face extreme situations such as floods or fires.

• If you are veterans

• If you have significant medical needs

• If you have newborn children

• Or are at risk of domestic violence

Governor Healey continues to ask the feds for help.

“We need more funding, we need more help,” Gov. Healey said after an appearance on a local radio station where she discussed immigration.

The governor hopes the new five-day rule will make some migrants think twice about coming to Massachusetts, where sleeping rough may now be an option — but not for long.

“I don’t think the five-day rule will work when it’s cold because there will be a lot of families out on the streets and that will be unacceptable to most of us in Massachusetts,” Thielman said.

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