WORCESTER, Mass. - There are nine SafetyNet shelter sites currently operating in Massachusetts, including one in Worcester.

These sites were opened as a public health intervention, to prevent families, both from Massachusetts and new arrivals, from unsheltered homelessness. The $5 million SafetyNet shelter program is a partnership between the Healey-Driscoll administration, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the executive office of housing.  

The site in Worcester is run by Meryl’s Safe Haven. It opened on Jan. 26 and is now operating at capacity with 13 families. Co-founder Tasia Cerezo said two of the families are from Massachusetts, while the others are settling in well. 

"They're very resourceful," Cerezo said. "They're providing not just support to each other, but support to us.  They are excited to go to school. They're excited to figure out the transportation. I remember the first day someone came to us and said, 'yeah, I took the bus,' and we're just like, 'how did you figure out the bus?' I lived in Massachusetts for over 15 years now and I still don't know how to take the bus. So, they are very resourceful and I think they are settling in nicely.”

The United Way said these stays are intended to be short term until families are placed in another program or into safe and stable housing. Cerezo said, as of now, the SafetyNet shelter contract runs through the end of May.