New day shelter opens in Chelsea, as state shelters remain full

La Colaborativa plans to open a new day shelter Tuesday in Chelsea to provide services for up to 200 people.

The opening comes at a time when shelters across the state have been overwhelmed as immigrants and existing residents struggle to find or afford housing.

“As we’re facing an unprecedented state of emergency, it's critical that all residents have access to safe, dignified shelter, especially over the frigid winter months," said La Colaborativa CEO Gladys Vega in a statement.

The new shelter will offer meals and space for families and individuals, operating during business hours on weekdays only. The center will provide other resources, too, such as help obtaining food, clothing and other needs, according to a news release from United Way of Massachusetts Bay, which administered state grant funds to support the shelter.

La Colaborativa also plans to arrange transportation for families staying at a state overflow shelter in Cambridge, the statement said.

Sarah Bartley, vice president of United Way's safe and stable housing program, said the day shelter is particularly needed since the Cambridge state shelter has limited hours.

"Those families are needing a safe place to go during the day," Bartley said.

She said United Way already has used the $5 million grant to fund eight other shelters that stay open around the clock. Those shelters can fit up to 97 families. She said the organization also expects to help create additional sites with the state funding.

Bartley said the grants are intended to last through May, but United Way is looking for ways to help facilities continue to operate in some form afterward.

"We really want to see these sites be able to continue to make a contribution," she said. "We don't know exactly what each site is going to look like."

More than 7,500 families were enrolled in the state emergency shelter system as of Friday, with most staying in hotels. Last fall, the state announced its system could not accommodate more than 7,500 families, despite a state law guaranteeing shelter for families with children.

Many private shelters serving individuals are also full. However, some expand their capacity during the winter to prevent people from freezing on the streets.

The state also opened a number of "overflow" shelters in Greater Boston in recent months to help accommodate homeless families in the state.