Fewer families are living in hotels

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The state has pledged to get all homeless families out of hotels and into permanent housing by June of 2014 and Aaron Gornstein, Undersecretary for the Department of Housing and Community Development told the 22News I-Team, they're making good progress.

"We've achieved a tremendous amount of progress in a short period of time," Gornstein said.

The state is touting its progress moving homeless families out of local hotels and motels and into permanent housing.

Gornstein told the 22News I-Team since July 1st there's been a 45 percent reduction in the number of families still living in hotels in western Massachusetts.

"We're really proud, we've gone down from 513 families back in July to about 280 families today."

One of the biggest changes came from the Quality Inn here in West Springfield. Last summer there were 109 families living here, Right now, according to the state, there are only 10.

Hotel living isn't cheap, it's about $80 dollars per family a day and conditions are less than ideal, according to people like Lynette Diaz who lives in a hotel in Chicopee with two children.

"My kids when I first got here, my kids both caught lice. I had to cut all my son's hair off. My daughter, I was able to get rid of them, but a couple months later, she caught them again," Diaz said.

Gornstein says the state investigates cases of unsanitary conditions as they're made aware although he said he doesn't think there is a widespread problem.

He added the claims only validate the need and urgency to get the families out.

"We have about 280 families left in Western Mass and we are going to be working to move them out because it isn't the best place for them to be."

There are a little more than 13 hundred families still living in hotels statewide.

Gornstein says their goal is to get down to a thousand by this June.