West Springfield 'dumping ground' for homeless

Date: 7/7/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD -- The Commonwealth's welfare system is broken, according to State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti and Rep. James Welch, and they believe they've got the legislative tools to repair it.

Buoniconti and Welch have proposed a new bill, which would crack down on numerous abuses within the current system and provide stricter standards for transitional housing, work exemptions, use of food stamps and language proficiency.

"We are failing in the fight to eliminate poverty," Buoniconti said at a press conference announcing the bill on July 1. "This is a comprehensive bill a longtime in the making. We've been very cautious about releasing this bill ... this will be a highly debated bill."

The new legislation would end the practice of housing homeless families in hotels or motels within one year; require those who are currently housed there to have access to on-site kitchen facilities; and prohibits municipalities from lodging more than two percent of the state's total transitional assistance recipients.

Buoniconti said West Springfield in particular has become "a dumping ground" for the state's homeless families receiving transitional assistance.

"We want to make sure all communities share the burden," Buoniconti said, adding that state officials would rather house families in the western part of the state to save money.

He added that 11.6 percent of the state's needy families are currently housed in hotels and motels within town limits -- such as the Quality Inn on Riverdale Street -- costing taxpayers approximately $2 million per month. Calls to the Quality Inn were not returned by press time.

"It's an awful lifestyle and you are setting people up for failure," Buoniconti said of the living conditions within hotels and motels.

The legislation would also require Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) to be used and monitored by a card, rather than cash withdrawals; the use of TAFDC funds to purchase alcohol, lottery tickets or tobacco would also be prohibited.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) would be responsible for monitoring card usage monthly.

"We don't want people to use children as shields ... using [TAFDC] money to buy alcohol [of other vices]," Buoniconti said.

The bill would also eliminate certain work exemptions such as recipients who home-school a child or baby-sit, those who participate in substance abuse program or vocational rehabilitation programs or those attending post-secondary education.

The legislation would also require a pregnant woman to work 10 days -- currently 120 days -- prior to her due date unless otherwise instructed by a doctor.

Elder recipients must be at least 65 -- currently must be 60 -- to be exempt from work.

The bill would also require those who lack proficiency in the English language to complete an English as a Second Language course, which Buoniconti said would make a person "more employable."

"By adopting these reforms, we can rid our current welfare system of many of its inefficiencies and do a better job helping these individuals to quickly re-join the workforce," he said.

However, some within the field of human service are skeptical of such reforms.

"Speaking English: what has that got to do with a person being poor?" Paul Bailey, executive director of Springfield Partners for Community Action (SPCA), asked. "It's a sly way of spiting people."

He added that for those who are "'employable,' there aren't many jobs here."

Bailey noted that the number of needy people seeking assistance from his organization has more than doubled in the past year.

When asked if the SPCA has the resources to meet the increasing demand, he replied, "Truly no but we try to make do. When a person comes in with a helpless situation we make sure that we connect them with services [they require]."

Welch noted the bill has been filed and is awaiting committee assignment.