Dozens of migrant families now living in hotels across Woburn, up to 100 more on the way, mayor says

WOBURN, Mass. — Massachusetts has placed dozens of homeless migrant families in several hotels across Woburn under the state’s “Right-To-Shelter” law, city officials said.

“Right now, across the Commonwealth, there are 90 different communities that have migrants in their hotels, and over 20,000 migrants in those communities,” said Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin. “There’s no need for local approval. The Governor places families in any community where there’s a willing hotel owner to take those families.”

Willing hotel owners in Woburn housed ten migrant families, until last week, when that number swelled to 59 families. And Galvin said the influx isn’t over.

“They told us last week they’d be opening up a shelter in one of the hotels in the city,” he said. “The shelter would be for 100 families.”

It’s unclear whether that shelter, to be set up at the Sonesta Select on Mishawum Road, will add another 100 migrant families -- or will absorb the 59 already here. But the potential is there for Woburn’s migrant family population to increase 16-fold by September. Galvin said that will most greatly impact the city’s school system.

“We don’t know what the numbers are going to be for the children, we don’t know the grades,” he said. But Galvin thinks it’s likely many of the children will face a language barrier once school resumes on September 7.

In a statement, Woburn School Superintendent Matt Crowley said educators are trying to understand the needs for the newcomers so they can appropriately welcome them to Woburn.

“As we gain clarity on the number of school-aged children who are enrolling in the Woburn Public Schools, we look forward to ensuring a smooth transition into the beginning of this school year,” Crowley said.

The Superintendent said the goal is to help students, parents, and guardians feel welcomed and included in the school community.

But some residents who spoke with Boston 25 on and off-camera raised concerns about a school system that’s dealing with a common, post-pandemic issue.

“There’s already a lack of teachers,” said resident Erin Sweet. “It’s a sad situation. These families do need housing. I agree with that. But I think there’s a better way.”

The better way forward, Galvin said, is for the federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Until that happens, he said, migrants will continue coming to Massachusetts -- one of three places in the U.S. with Right to Shelter laws (New York and Washington, DC are the others).

“They’re telling us thirty to forty families are coming in every day,” Galvin said. “It’s a very challenging time in Massachusetts and it’s going to continue.”

But Galvin said he’s confident the newcomers will feel welcomed in Woburn.

“We’re a very diverse community,” he said. “We’re going to do our best to help with the situation.”

And Galvin will be asking the state to pony up, should the influx of migrants force expenditures the city has no plans for.

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