We need your help in defending Massachusetts’ vital Right to Shelter—a policy that has protected children, their caretakers and pregnant women for over 40 years. Recently, Governor Maura Healey proposed a series of drastic changes to the state’s shelter system, including new residency requirements, enhanced criminal background checks, and has already placed harsh limits on how long people can stay in shelters. These changes would severely undermine our state’s commitment to providing shelter for those vulnerable groups, regardless of immigration status or criminal history.

Massachusetts has long been a beacon of compassion, ensuring that anyone who needs shelter can receive it. The Right to Shelter is a cornerstone of our values as a state. The proposed changes, however, would create harmful barriers that would force more people into homelessness, especially immigrants, refugees, and those with criminal convictions who are already struggling to survive.

We need our state leaders to stand strong in support of the Right to Shelter and reject these harmful restrictions. I urge you to reach out to your state senator and ask them to oppose Governor Healey's proposed shelter policies. Let them know that you believe in compassion, dignity, and justice for all people—regardless of their background or status.