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Date: 10/31/2023
HADLEY — A Route 9 motel has been chosen by state housing officials as a temporary shelter site for families needing immediate lodging.
In a statement issued on Oct. 24, Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan disclosed that the state had chosen a local building as interim housing.
“The town of Hadley was notified approximately two weeks ago by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities that the Knights Inn establishment, located in Hadley, has been designated as a supplemental shelter for unhoused families,” Brennan said.
Brennan said at the time that town officials were told four families had moved into The Knights Inn at 208 Russell St. A task force was hurriedly established to provide, “a structured way to provide for basic needs, ensure that families were cared for and that the town had a holistic understanding of how to prepare to meet those needs.”
Brennan also said that the task force did meet with state entities regarding efforts to minimize the impact on town resources and staff members.
“Representatives from Public Safety, Board of Health, the building commissioner, the school superintendent and town administration met to prepare a communication process and identify resources,” Brennan said. “While the Police Department met with the National Guard to hear about potential stress points and concerns shared by other supplemental shelters in the state, several other department heads went directly to the site to perform common fire and building safety inspections.”
Those officials, including the school superintendent, also met with the families and identified 34 individuals requiring a variety of services. A school orientation for the children was also held to assess needs in that area.
Brennan also addressed any potential or immediate costs to the town as a result of the emergency housing.
“Although there are presently no direct costs for Hadley associated with the housing of the families, departments are keeping track of any expenditures they incur and it is anticipated that the Governor will release funds to reimburse municipalities for their expenses,” she said.
Kevin Connor, with the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities confirmed that nine families are currently being sheltered in Hadley. In a statement, Connor said, “The state notified the town of Hadley in advance of families being placed into shelter.” He said. “The family shelter system has provided temporary, emergency shelter to Massachusetts families for four decades, and approximately half of the current shelter population are long-term [Massachusetts] residents.”
Connor also said that within the past year there has been an increase in demand due to both high cost of housing and new arrivals coming to the state who qualify for emergency shelter.
“The emergency family shelter system serves both long-term Massachusetts residents and new arrivals to the state,” he said. “We estimate nearly [½] of the current shelter population are new arrivals to the state.”
According to the state website, more than 90 cities and towns across the commonwealth are now hosting families in need with 7,202 families in the emergency family shelter system as of Oct. 24.