As migrant families wait for shelter, a day service center steps in

Last year, Governor Maura Healey set a cap on the number of families served by the state family shelter system at 7500. Families beyond that number are put on a waitlist. Some have found temporary shelter in overflow sites set up by the state. The thing is, those shelters are not all open during the day, leaving day-side support options limited.

Enter La Colaborativa, a Chelsea-based immigrant services non-profit, which opened a day service center late last month. Today, La Colaborativa president Gladys Vega joins The Common to discuss the services the organization is offering to support recently arrived migrant families on the state family shelter waitlist.