Massachusetts migrant shelters hardly impact community life, neighbors say

"Perry Eaton’s neighbors warned that migrants moving into Dedham would cause trouble. Last month, someone passed fliers around the neighborhood, which is nestled between a pair of hotels converted into state overflow shelters, warning that expanding services for the migrants would create “catastrophic” traffic and “inevitable” loitering, and leave the community’s security “compromised.”

But weeks later, Eaton and other neighbors said those fears haven’t materialized.

On a recent weekday morning, Eaton said traffic in and around his horseshoe-shaped neighborhood on Robinwood Road has remained consistent since the shelters opened weeks ago.

“It’s hard to tell any real difference in the day to day,” Eaton, 34, said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/23/metro/massachusetts-migrant-shelters-community/

Five year-old friends who were born in Chile to Haitian parents colored at the Valente branch of the Cambridge Public Library. JESSICA RINALDI/GLOBE STAFF

Migrant crisis: State Senate votes to limit time in family shelter

"As the state burns through the hundreds of millions already set aside to fund Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system, the state Senate late Thursday voted to inject millions more into the system, and limit the amount of time homeless families, including migrants, can stay.

The 32-8 vote, which happened shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday night, sets the stage for what will likely be a contentious debate with the House, which passed its own version earlier this month.

The proposal is part of a spending bill meant to buoy the strained shelter system through the end of the fiscal year, and help fund it into 2025. While the Senate proposal diverges from the House’s bill on some key details, both chambers are now united behind the concept of restricting, for the first time since the inception of Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law, how long the state should provide a place to sleep for homeless families."

Shared from -> (subscription maybe required) https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/22/metro/mass-senate-vote-shelter-limit-on-shelter-stays-migrants/

The Senate legislation differs in many ways from the House’s proposal

"As Massachusetts struggles to find housing for an influx of migrants, a Globe analysis of state data finds that few wealthy communities are hosting emergency shelters for homeless and migrant families while the bulk are in middle-income cities and towns.

Of the 94 communities hosting emergency shelters, more than half have a median household income below $100,000, while just nine of those communities — including Acton, Concord, and Lexington — have household incomes above $150,000.

The state says its process for placing shelters is driven by the availability of space and factors such as their proximity to critical services such as public transportation.

But many communities say they are having trouble providing all the resources people need, such as transportation and translators, and worry the strain on their limited resources will reach a breaking point."

Buried within the Globe article above was this piece which I missed while I was away in February (subscription maybe required) ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/09/metro/boston-migrants-globe-analysis/

"Migrants want to work. And employers want to hire them"

"In the midst of the migrant crisis, there is opportunity: thousands of new arrivals eager to find jobs that employers around the state are desperate to fill.

And these mutual needs are starting to be met. Migrants living in at-capacity emergency shelters are trickling into the workforce: packaging cooking oil in Ayer; caring for patients with developmental disabilities in Waltham; gearing up to clean hospital rooms in Salem.

But getting to that point has required a massive undertaking. After holding clinics to speed up the work authorization process, the state launched a job skills training program that allows migrants living in shelters to start learning — and earning a stipend — while they wait for the US government to issue them work permits, and just announced two new hires dedicated to connecting migrants with jobs. Workers from MassHire Career Centers are going into shelters to connect migrants with English classes and help them find jobs. And employers are opening their doors to shelter residents — donating space for training sessions and even hiring translators to assist new hires.

Salem Hospital has offered housekeeping jobs to six Haitian migrants living at a shelter nearby on the campus of Salem State University, and filling them would be a major milestone."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/15/business/migrants-work-employers/

"Migrants want to work. And employers want to hire them"

Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda for January 17, 2024 Meeting

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

January 17, 2024 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. December 20, 2023   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/december_20_2023_tc_meeting_minutes_-draft_for_review.pdf

b. January 3, 2024  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/january_3_2024_tc_meeting_minutes_-draft_for_review.pdf

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Proclamation: FISH of Franklin

5. APPOINTMENTS - None Scheduled

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Discussion: Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director 

b. Discussion: Homelessness Report - Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)

 

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 24-05: Termination of the Massachusetts Statewide Opioid Settlement Stabilization Fund, as well as Dedication of Revenues Thereto, as Authorized by G.L. Chapter 77 of the Acts of 2023 (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-05 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9a._24-05_-_termination_of_and_dedication_into_the_opioid_settlement_stabilization_fund.pdf

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

a. Migrant Housing Update

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Budget Subcommittee

d. Master Plan Committee

e. Davis-Thayer Reuse Advisory Committee

f. Police Station Building Committee

g. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_jan_17_2023.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda for January 17, 2024 Meeting

This Talk Franklin covers the FY 2025 budget cycle starting with the tax rate for FY 2024 getting set (audio)

FM #1107 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1107 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  

Topics for this session

• Budget cycle starting new with tax rate hearing pinning FY 2024

• Tough decisions face in FY2025 and beyond

• Migrant housing situation stabilized

The recording runs about 39 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1107-talk-franklin-11-28-23

--------------

Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Agenda for Tax rate hearing Nov 21, 2023  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/november_21_2023_town_council_tax_hearing_agenda.pdf 

Budget cycle and financial terms audio with Chris Sandini & Kerry Bertone

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/the-town-of-franklin-budget-cycle.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Talk Franklin covers the FY 2025 budget cycle starting with the tax rate for FY 2024 getting set (audio)

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Nov 3. 2023

It feels like we are hitting our stride this week! The Emergency Shelter in Franklin is near capacity, the After-School Program has begun, and we’ve worked most of the kinks out of our process for assessing needs, collecting donations and distributing them.

 

The After-School Program is up and running. In its first offering, it served an estimated 30 children, elementary age and younger. The program was such a success that, in the future, we’ve been given permission to start a little earlier in order to reach out to the middle- and high-school students who arrive to the shelter about an hour before the elementary students. If you’d like to help with the After-school Program, please reach out to Rev. Kathy McAdams. We are hopeful that we will soon be able to offer the program over multiple days each week.

 

All donations have been consolidated at the Franklin United Methodist Church and teams of volunteers have done an excellent job of sorting. Next week, we will be sorting on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. In the weeks that follow we will have regular sorting on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Click here to learn more and signup for donation sorting.

 

The other amazing thing that happened this week was the receipt of several donations for the Franklin Interfaith Council’s Local Humanitarian Aid Fund, including a $1000 gift from a community member. In the near term, these funds will go to provide direct support and aid to the shelter. If you’d like to make a donation online, click here and designate the “Local Humanitarian Aid Fund.”

 

Attached is the updated flyer. We are continuing to ask for baby wipes and laundry detergent. We are also asking for new (in the package) socks and underwear (all sizes). Please distribute the flyer as you see fit.

 

Thank for your donations! Thank you to everyone who has volunteered! Thank you all for your continued support.

 

Peace.

Jacob

 

 

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

 

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

Download the flyer here and share ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H2wHKs4D1T5BIkYnTpLZP9BZPZqBGFuX/view?usp=drive_link

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE for Nov 3. 2023

Town Council Segment - Migrant Housing Status - 11/1/23 (audio)

FM #1093 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1093 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Nov 1, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The report segment runs about 9 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1093-town-administrators-report-migrant-housing-status-11-01-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/franklin-ma-agenda-for-town-council.html

Migrant Housing Portal -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/pages/migrant-dashboard-portal 

Prior updates on the Migrant Housing Status

• Update from the Oct 18, 2023 meeting ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-council-segment-migrant-housing.html

• Update from the Oct 11, 2023 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-administrators-report-migrant.html 

• Update from Sep 20 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html 

• Update from Sep 6 meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html 

• Notification on migrant temporary housing ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Council Segment - Migrant Housing Status - 11/1/23 (audio)

More Perfect Union - wfpr.fm: 93 - "Right To Shelter" Law, Maura Healey & Running Out of Room (audio)

In this episode, the group sits down to discuss the "Right to Shelter" law, Maura Healey's announcement and current state of dwindling shelter in the state of Massachusetts.

Audio file -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episode/93-right-to-shelter-law-maura-healey-running-out-of-room 

The Board of Health dashboard as referenced in the audio 

Franklin Interfaith Council donation page ->   https://franklininterfaith.org/donations/

wfpr.fm: A More Perfect Union (audio)

More Perfect Union - WFPR

Discussing American Politics and Current Events

Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States.

Find all the More Perfect Union episodes online -> https://more-perfect-union.captivate.fm/episodes  or subscribe with your favorite podcast app

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid Update as of Oct 27, 2023

The Emergency Shelter in Franklin is nearing compacity. As of Monday there were over 90 families, representing roughly 300 people, including approximately 100 children placed in the shelter here in Franklin. To view current numbers, view the dashboard setup by the Franklin Department of Public Health.

This past week has been busy as we updated our process for assessing needs and collecting donations. This new collaboration with the SAFE Coalition will help insure that we collect items that will be used in a timely manner by those who need them. All donations are being brought to the Franklin United Methodist Church to be sorted, stored, and then distributed. If you'd like to help sort, you can signup here. If you are part of a group/organization that would like to help sort, please email me to schedule a time to help.

The After-School Program is slated to begin next week! Thank you to all who have volunteered and gone through the necessary vetting. If you'd like to learn more about this program and volunteer to help, please reach out to Rev. Kathy McAdams.

The Franklin Interfaith Council has setup a new designated fund for "Local Humanitarian Aid." 100% of these funds will be used for local humanitarian efforts in the Franklin-area. In the near-term, these funds will be used to help meet the needs of the families placed in the Emergency Shelter. Donations can be made online here (designate the fund as "Local Humanitarian Aid Fund)."

Follow the link for the updated flyer. Please download and distribute as you see fit. ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-UK2ENFVfq75ZG1VoAX7wh-qCivQr3a/view?usp=drive_link

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to #LOVEfranklin!

Peace.

Jacob

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

 

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid Update as of Oct 27, 2023

This Talk Franklin episode with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen covers a lot of current topics (audio)

FM #1087 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1087 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Friday, October 20, 2023.  

Topics for this session

• Davis Thayer “Expression of Interest”

• Ribbon cutting held for Brick School Renovation, scheduled for Schmidt’s Farm purchase, Oct 27 at 11 AM

• La Cantina Winery/Brewery expansion, licenses approved

• SAFE Coalition update from Jen Knight-Levine

• Migrant housing status update

• Nov 7 election

The recording runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie on Friday, October 20, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1087-talk-franklin-10-20-23

--------------

Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Brick School ribbon cutting photos  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/brick-school-ribbon-cutting-oct-13-2023.html 

Schmidt’s Farm scheduled  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/open-space-ribbon-cutting-at-schmidt.html 

Town Council agenda for 10/18/23 -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

Jen Knight-Levine’s audio segment from the meeting  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/jen-knight-levine-updates-council-on.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Talk Franklin episode with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen covers a lot of current topics (audio)