Springfield MA – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states “even though I expressed my feelings of opposition verbally, and in writing to the past administration, (please see attached September 5, 2014 letter) on congregate shelters I have recently learned, through Code Enforcement action, of expanded presence of “co-sheltering” homeless families in Springfield. The practice came to light when Code Enforcement responded to a complaint and found four homeless families living together in a single apartment unit, one family to a locked bedroom.
Co-sheltering units are paid for by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), through its state-funded family shelter program. DHCD claims it has used co-shelter units on a limited basis for many years, but has significantly expanded the program in 2014.
