Emergency shelters found dirty and pest-infested conditions

In January, inspections of state-run emergency shelters revealed serious housekeeping and pest issues. The inspections were prompted after a migrant was arrested in Revere carrying a rifle and drugs. Governor Maura Healey ordered these reviews to ensure the safety of the families living in the shelters. Mark DeJoie, CEO of Centerboard, a human services organization, reported finding cleanliness problems during the inspections. He noted that no weapons were found in the hotels checked by his team. Inspection records showed that the YMCA of Greater Boston also reported potential counterfeit money in one unit. However, the police later determined that the money was not counterfeit. Records indicated that some inspections led to tense situations. In one instance, a participant punched a staff member during a room inspection. This incident was documented, but DeJoie said such tensions can arise during inspections, which may stress families. Shelter providers noted consistent cleanliness issues across various sites. For example, Citizens Inn found two units with insufficient maintenance and reported them to the Department of Children and Families. They provided families with cleaning supplies to help improve conditions. At another shelter, Ascentria Care Alliance recorded concerns about pests and violations of smoking rules. They responded quickly to the issues, issuing warnings to residents. During these inspections, which took place while roughly 6,500 families were in the system, no criminal activity was found. The inspections were ordered after a severe incident involving drugs and an arrest, which raised public concerns about security in emergency shelters.