Migrants move into hotels in Dartmouth

Similar to many other communities throughout Massachusetts, including Middleboro, Wareham and Fairhaven on the South Coast, a “small number” of migrant families have been moved into hotels in Dartmouth by the state, according to a Town of Dartmouth release. 

The only official indication of the number of families housed in Dartmouth comes from the state’s Emergency Assistance data, which indicates that anywhere from 1 to 50 families are in Dartmouth. 

Superintendent June Saba-Maguire said four students will start in Dartmouth Public Schools next week, at the elementary and high school levels. Saba-Maguire said the students will be “well-supported” and that the district already has English Language Learner teachers in place.

The town said its Community Services Outreach Team, along with the Select Board, charitable organizations and local service agencies, will strategize to support the migrants. 

The entire state is grappling with finding shelter for incoming migrant families, many of them coming from Haiti. Massachusetts’ “right-to-shelter” law guarantees housing for families with children who meet certain criteria and need a place to stay. 

The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is turning to willing lodging facilities all over the Commonwealth to provide shelter to the influx. This influx is on top of the estimated 15,500 homeless families who find themselves without a permanent roof over their heads in a tight housing market. 

It is unclear which hotels the migrants are being housed in. 

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.