Proposals for Homeless May--Expand City Shelters

A new emergency shelter for the city's homeless may be operating by late May, as part of Gov. Michael S. Dukakis's long-term plans for handling the state's growing displaced population.

In a response to a recent report by his advisory committee on the homeless, Dukakis outlined his plans Thursday at a State House press conference.

For immediate emergency assistance, Dukakis proposed funding for 10 new shelters--including one in Cambridge--to open by the end of May, Philip W. Johnston, director of the governor's office of human resources, said last week.

Location

David Whittey, executive director of Shelter, Inc., a non-profit group running one of Cambridge's three shelters, confirmed yesterday that the Dukakis administration has committed partial annual funding to a new shelter. But he added that other problems, such as finding a location, would have to be resolved before establishing the shelter.

The administration's study emphasized the demographics of the state's 7000 homeless. Contrary to the perception of transients as elderly single drifters, many are actually families rooted in communities that are suffering from the effects of unemployment and a housing shortage, according to the study.

Refugees, Immigrants

"Cambridge's homeless are refugees, immigrants, alcholics, the mentally ill, fire victims, battered women, and families," according to the study. That diverse composition is due to Cambridge's large size, the study says.

Imani Butler, the city's new emergency services coordinator, agreed yesterday with the study's profile of Cambridge's 1500 homeless. She added that while Dukakis is making a serious effort to alleviate the problem, cities are often having a lot of trouble getting state funds.

While pointing to recently increased temporary shelter and quicker emergency assistance as short-term accomplishments, Dukakis emphasized the need for long-term policy responses as well. "We have laid a significant foundation on which continuing initiatives can be built and refined," he said.

In addition to funding 10 new shelters, Johnson said that Dukakis's $7.2 million fiscal year 1984 budget allocation for the problem also proposes emergency counseling services and reforms in the state's welfare rules, which currently make it difficult for homeless recipients to collect benefits.

To attack the cause of the problem, Dukakis has also introduced a housing package to the legislature that would fund 2550 new units of public housing. The package also includes funds for renovation and incentives for developers to participate in low-cost housing programs.