The Rev. Jo Murphy, executive director of Unitarian Universalist Mass Action (right) speaks at a rally at First Parish Oct. 27, calling on Gov. Healey, in her home town, to protect the right to shelter. Here’s the group’s statement about what took place (photos by Tali Smookler):
As children and families continue to sleep in unsafe places despite being eligible for the state’s family shelter program, Unitarian Universalist Mass Action (UU Mass Action), the UU Youth Corps and many other organizations and individuals gathered Sunday, Oct. 27, at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington to demand action.
The group of 60 called on Gov. Healey to repeal punitive new shelter rules, including a five-day limit in overflow shelter, a six-month ban on shelter for families who stay in an overflow shelter and a nine-month limit on stays in an emergency assistance (EA) shelter.
“Governor Healey needs to protect the right to shelter and repeal the new shelter policy. The policy is cruel, unjust and affects people in her town,” said Lauren McNeill, an Arlington youth who spoke out, in a statement from Unitarian Universalist MA Action). “Many youth from her town like me urge her to restore the right to shelter and put Massachusetts on the forefront of the shelter initiative.”
In July, Healey announced drastic changes to the EA family shelter system, which has forced children and their families — including infants and pregnant people — to sleep in train stations, sidewalks and other unsafe places, even after they have been found to be eligible for EA shelter. This comes just as families are being notified they will be forced out of EA shelter because of the new length of stay policy, even if they have no place to go.
“For over 40 years, Massachusetts has been committed to protecting babies, children and families from having to sleep on the streets. We must not abandon that promise now. We need lawmakers to protect the EA shelter system and make real investments in truly affordable housing,” said Rev. Jo Murphy, Director of UU Mass Action.
The action, held from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27, brought together faith leaders, local youth activists and community members to amplify the need for shelter solutions to prevent family homelessness across the state.
The faith-led gathering underscored the moral imperative for elected officials to take bold steps toward resolving the crisis, highlighting the need for safe, accessible housing. Through prayers, speeches and testimonies, attendees called on Gov. Healey to lead with empathy and commitment to ensure families have stable, secure shelter options.
If you’d like to learn more about this issue, you can check out MA Coalition for the Homeless >>
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This report of a protest, which includes opinion, based on a news release from Unitarian Universalist Mass Action, was published Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.
