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Appeals to the federal government have so far yielded no change to work authorizations or funding to address the strain on the Massachusetts emergency shelter system.
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The number of homeless families in Massachusetts continues to rise. As of October 2023, almost 7,000 families are living in emergency shelters — hotels, dorms and apartments — run by the state. In many communities, including West Springfield, the children enroll in public schools, where educators try to meet learning and basic needs.
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The final deal caps off more than a year and a half of debate and takes aim at two issues: the increasingly unaffordable cost of living here, and a growing fear that Massachusetts is not competitive enough to attract the businesses and workers its economy needs.
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Los dos candidatos que reciban más votos en las elecciones preliminares del 12 de septiembre pasarán a las elecciones generales de noviembre. La votación anticipada finaliza el viernes.
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The top two finishers in the Sept. 12 preliminary will advance to November’s general election.
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City and town officials say it's hard to ensure families' basic needs are met without coordination from the state. State officials counter they're doing their best, but the "fast moving nature of this emergency" makes it hard.
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Officials said community action agencies receive funding from a variety of sources. A bit less than two-thirds of their resources come from the federal government, and roughly a third comes from the state
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The emergency family shelter system is seeing an "unprecedented" increase in homelessness as a result of high housing costs and new arrivals to the state. However, experts say these numbers represent just a fraction of all homeless families in Massachusetts.
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Some child advocates say the state is too quick to remove children from their parents over reasons of poverty, not parenting. They say intensive family support and legal assistance can prevent the longterm damage that comes with separation.
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The Maple-High Six Corners neighborhood home lottery includes four new, affordable homes on Central and Pine streets.