Record Number of Homeless Families in Massachusetts

by Shannon Moriarty · 2008-10-06 22:17:00 UTC
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A young homeless shelter resident in Lowell, MA. (Photo courtesy of Boston Globe.)

Homelessness is at a record high in Massachusetts. Since 2006, MA homeless shelters have seen a 25% rise in the number of homeless families seeking services.

According to an AP article released today, shelters across the state are operating at capacity. As a result, over 580 families are currently living in extended stay motels scattered across the state.

While rising food and fuel costs, a lack of affordable housing, and increased rates of unemployment are to blame, service providers see another trend among families seeking services. According to the AP article:

The state is also starting to track foreclosures as a cause for homelessness. That typically occurs when a multifamily home or apartment building is foreclosed on and the tenants are evicted, sometimes losing their security deposit in the process, making it harder to come up with the rent for a new apartment.

As homeowners and renters continue to be displaced by foreclosures, shelters across the country will undoubtedly feel the strain of the times.

The trickle down from the bailout can't come fast enough.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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