Massachusetts Shelter Crisis: Migrant Priority and Vetting Concerns Spark Controversy

Massachusetts Migrants Taking Shelter Beds from Taxpayers, Allowed in with No Vetting: Former Director

A former director of the emergency shelter system in Massachusetts has spoken out about the state’s crisis, saying that migrant families are taking shelter beds away from American citizens and being allowed into shelters without proper vetting.

Jonathan Fetherston, a former director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), made these claims during an interview. He stated that he had to turn away American citizens who were in need of shelter due to the chaos at state migrant shelters.

Fetherston recalled instances where he would have to tell veterans and other American citizens that they could not stay at the shelters, despite having a legitimate need for assistance. He claimed that these individuals were being denied shelter while migrants were allowed to take their place.

“I would have veterans walk up to the shelter, saying ‘I am a Vietnam veteran, I just need a room for tonight.’ And I would say, ‘I’m sorry. This is for migrants. All the public is not allowed. This is for migrants only,'” Fetherston said.

He also expressed frustration with the lack of proper vetting procedures in place to ensure that those being housed in shelters are genuinely in need and do not pose a threat to public safety.

“You can’t blame the people who stepped up and tried to do their job,” Fetherston said. “You have to blame the system and the person running the system for not putting checks and balances.”

Fetherston, who served as MEMA director from 2015-2020, emphasized that the state’s shelter system is in dire need of reform.

“We’re going to have to support cities and towns in addressing the needs of unhoused families in their communities and put us on the path toward a more fiscally sustainable shelter system,” Fetherston urged.

In response to these allegations, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has threatened to use “every tool” at her disposal to fight back against what she sees as attempts to undermine her administration’s efforts to address the state’s homelessness crisis.

Fetherston expressed skepticism over Healey’s claims, stating that her administration is more concerned with catering to migrants than addressing the needs of American citizens in need of shelter.

“She can say she will increase vetting, but how do you vet someone who has no ID?” Fetherston questioned.

Source: www.foxnews.com