Massachusetts is doling out $2 million every month to 39 motels statewide, at a cost of $85 per room to taxpayers, in order to provide temporary housing for 751 families, including about 1,000 children.

The Boston Globe reports that inspite of the heavy bill to taxpayers, some of these motels in Boston, Cambridge and Ashleigh provide only bare minimum living conditions.

“Many motels are in congested commercial districts on busy thoroughfares without sidewalks. They often are dingy, with poor lighting, worn carpeting, and - in some places - bedbugs. Families are not allowed to have visitors in their rooms, some of which lack microwaves and refrigerators. Children have parking lots as their only playgrounds.”

To make matters worse, some of the motels which are housing the homeless are the source of increasing complaints of irregularities, medical emergencies and criminal activities. After the fire dept. found illegal hot plates and toaster ovens at the Cambridge Gateway Inn, they’re now conducting weekly checks.

But the problem here is that the homeless families being put up at these motels do not have the support that they get at shelters - use of kitchens, medical care, living areas, playgrounds, etc.

This creates an atmosphere of hopelessness in the motels and leads to emergencies triggered by desperate families trying to bend the law in order to fulfill these simple yet unavailable needs.

Posted on July 4th, 2009 by Thomas
Filed under: Hotels, News