Homeless Massachusetts mom waiting for emergency housing for months while migrants get preference

With a cost of more than $1 billion this year alone, Massachusetts is currently hosting more than 20,000 migrants in emergency shelters spread out over the state. These shelters offer housing, meals, health insurance, transportation, legal assistance, monetary rewards, and even laundry services.

Since the fall of 2023, 140 migrant families have been housed exclusively at the Clarion Hotel in Taunton, which is closed to the public. I have written about the hotel for the last nine months, including the quantity of police calls to the building, the cost of transportation, and the legal problems the establishment is facing. My thorough three-part series on the Taunton hotel is available here.

However, I was drawn to a recent Facebook post made by an unidentified poster. The unmarried mother of four revealed that she needed assistance finding a place to live with her youngest three children, who are ages 10, 14, and 16. Last year, her 19-year-old eldest daughter enlisted in the military. The woman claimed that she had been spending about $800 a week for a motel and that she simply could not afford the expense any longer. Her alternatives were dwindling.

I got in touch with the poster, Amanda, a woman from Fall River, and found out that she was on the emergency housing waiting list. I couldn’t help but question if it was really more difficult for a Massachusetts citizen with children to get emergency accommodation than it was for a migrant after my work reporting on the Clarion Hotel. As it happens, it was.

My interview with Amanda is below.

1. Have you been in Massachusetts your entire life? What kind of housing arrangement did you have before to being homeless?

I’ve spent around twenty-five years living in Fall River. I always had a residence of my own and managed to keep it up without help.

2. Under what conditions did you end up homeless?

I’ve had multiple surgeries and have a number of physical health problems, which have all caused me to miss work for extended periods of time. I became late on my rent as a result. In order for her to move into the apartment and have family move into the apartment downstairs, my landlord had been urging me to vacate. I informed her that there was assistance available to pay through Raft, but she decided to take advantage of the chance to file for eviction. After 13 years of waiting, I had finally received my section 8 certificate. My share of the rent was about $1000, unlike what many people believe. Although it is based on your income, it takes time for them to make adjustments if you become ill or something like. My agreement with Section 8 was broken when I fell behind on my rent because I was ill, and my voucher was revoked. Even though I could save money for moving fees, I realized that without help, I wouldn’t be able to pay my rent and other bills each month.

3. What is the duration of your homelessness?

Since July 2022, we have been without a place of our own. We spent the first 14 months at a family member’s place. We were able to secure financial aid in April, which allowed me to purchase an apartment. Since then, I have been looking for one. Since July 2, we have been staying at the hotel and paying cash.

4. Where do you store everything you own? Are all of your belongings with you and your kids, or do you have some in storage?

I filled a storage unit with anything we didn’t use every day. I received a call a few months ago informing me that the automated monthly payment had ceased to process two months earlier and that the entire amount was either payable right away or will be put up for auction. I lost all we owned since I couldn’t pay it because I had to pay for the motel. My entire life, including photos of my babies, memories, and vital documents. We’re carrying shoes and apparel.

5. To which organization did you submit an emergency shelter application? Was it over the phone or in person?

For nearly two months, I attempted to apply over the phone. I was promised a caseworker would get in touch with me every day, but they never did. I was then informed that I could apply in person at DTA in New Bedford, so I did. The screening procedure comprised a DPH examination for any illnesses, specific drugs, or medical equipment, as well as a DCF screening to make sure children were being cared for and what the existing setup was. At the end of April, we received approval. This placed you on a waiting list for a shelter to open and referred you to Homebase, which covers the cost of moving into an apartment and helps with rent each month for the $35k remaining in your grant.

6. Could you tell me more about the wait list and whether you were given a sense of where and when you will be assigned?

At the end of April, we were added to the list. Until I reached out, I have not heard from anyone or received any updates. As of right now, we are at the top of the list, but it’s unclear how long that will last. Although they ask and attempt to keep you local if you would like, the placement could take place anywhere in the state of Massachusetts. However, there is no guarantee.

7. Where have you been lodging with your family? How does the room look? How much does it cost?

Between two hotels, we remain. You can stay in hotels for a maximum of three weeks, after which you have to leave for two days before returning. Since check-in time begins between 3 and 4 pm and check-out time is typically between 10 am and noon, this is a pain, especially if you don’t have a car. We have a huge room with two queen beds, a desk area, a refrigerator and microwave, and a bathroom. We pay more for a room with a microwave and refrigerator, which is essential, but we really miss being able to prepare meals at home. The next motel we stay at has a similar arrangement, but instead of a queen bed, there are two double beds. Since travel is slowing down, the price has just dropped somewhat. The price starts at $815 a week, and some weeks have cost more than $1000. When there isn’t a way to hold without paying, I try to book the reservations in advance to get the best deals. Since they have the lowest prices, I make my reservations through Priceline and Expedia. There are no weekly rates available. Up until recently, my family helped me pay for transportation and the remaining amount of the accommodation cost over what my income covered. I started looking for assistance from the community because that help has run out and I can no longer afford to stay here alone.

8. Are your kids attending school? How has their schooling been affected by homelessness?

Both of my kids are enrolled in school. During this time, my oldest graduated and went into the army. My kids have been able to maintain their schools due to transportation being provided through a homeless outreach program the school department has. The first year there was a problem getting transportation arranged and they missed the first 3 weeks of school. Since then we haven t had issues. The transport dept has been excellent at quickly adjusting things if we have to switch hotels.

9. Are you working?

Yes, I work full time. Mostly overnight. Due to my physical health, it is very hard to be on my feet that long, but the time it takes to be approved for disability is too long to be without income, so I keep working. I used to work between 2 and 3 jobs, but my body won t allow me to do that any longer.

10. What kind of benefits do you and your children currently get from the state? Food? Health insurance? Cash?

We get SNAP and health insurance benefits. We recently had to recertify for SNAP, and they say the hotel receipts are not sufficient to show shelter costs, so the monthly amount went down more than half, which is a huge burden, especially since frozen and prepared quick meals are more expensive since we can t cook here. The amount we were receiving already didn t cover a full month, and now that s more money I won t have to put towards the hotel costs.

11. I noticed that you began to reach out on Facebook pages looking for help. That must be difficult to do. How does that make you feel?

It is very difficult to do. It s embarrassing. There was one day where check out time was getting close and I didn t have the money to pay for the night, which means checking out. I went to a nearby intersection and made a sign asking for help. That was the most degrading experience. I cried the whole time, not one person stopped or barely looked my way. As hard as it is, it s not as hard as it would be having to sit outside with my kids and our stuff with nowhere to go. For them I will do whatever I can to make things okay for them. The thought of them having to be taken and put in foster care makes it much easier to deal with how it makes me feel. I try not to put my face or name out so my children s friends or classmates don t see, and give them a reason to tease them. There is this myth out there that people choose to live like this to get free benefits, and I wish they could understand this isn t how anybody wants to live.

12. You are aware of the hotel in Taunton that has been housing migrants there for the past year. Can you tell me how you feel about the financial support and housing that is being provided there and does it bother you that you and the kids can not get a hotel room as easily?

The situation is the reason why it is so hard to get help and we have been waiting so long. It is frustrating to know that despite being a resident of the state, working and paying taxes for 24 years doesn t matter now that we need help. I hate to think of people with nowhere to go, but WE have nowhere to go. I do believe residents/citizens and especially veterans should be given priority over others with resources available. It blows my mind we are in a hotel and paying out of pocket, and despite being approved for help, they can t assist with paying here or even reimbursing any of the costs.

13. What do you think needs to be done to help families like yours that are struggling? What would be the best way for the state to help you get back on your feet?

Not making it so hard for people to find and get help. I have had to neglect other financial obligations to avoid us being on the streets and put us further into debt. There should be a database of some sort with landlords or agencies that work with the assistance available, or a case worker who is able to bridge the gap with finding an apartment that works with the assistance.

14. If you had to set a goal for yourself for this week, this month and this year, what would those be?

The main goal is getting us back into our own place so my children have their own bed to sleep in every night, and can have a sense of security, creating a stable homebase for us all.

15. If you could send a message to elected officials about families that are struggling, what would you say?

Make decisions for the residents like you would if it was your own family. Take the time to go through the process yourself so you can understand where the gaps are.

If you are interested in helping Amanda and her children with hotel costs,a GoFundMe has been created. Click here.

Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!