BOSTON — Tuesday morning, policy was handed down saying families seeking shelter in the state’s overflow sites can stay for five days before being turned out on their own. 

People in need of assistance would also have to wait six months before becoming eligible for long-term housing. Changes also include giving priority to those families who have veterans or have been impacted by a natural disaster.

“We want to make it clear to people from outside of Massachusetts who may have gotten word that this is a place to come,” said Healey. “That we do not have room here in Massachusetts. We are at capacity.” 

The governor says the state has offered to pay for tickets for those seeking refuge to travel elsewhere. 

Kelly Turley, an advocate for Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, has been fighting for the state’s shelters for months. She says exporting homelessness to another state isn’t responsible or humane. 

“We’re expecting that thousands of extremely vulnerable families in dire situations will be forced to make a very difficult decision about whether to take that very temporary shelter and take their chances on the other side or to stay in place is not meant for human habitation,” says Turley. “In the meantime, while they're waiting to secure longer-term resources.”

The governor has recently told families sleeping on the floor of Logan Airport they needed to leave and said the state will not be opening any additional shelter sites. 

This policy is set to go into effect next week. Turley says its not giving advocates or families much time to come up with other solutions.