I was at the State House in January 1983 when Gov. Michael Dukakis announced his intention to file legislation creating a “right to shelter” law. At the time, I was representing the Parole Board and the Department of Corrections in hopes that incarcerated women at MCI-Framingham, many with children awaiting their release, would be included in the legislation and have a home to go to when granted parole, or, after completing their sentence.

The governor had pledged “to put together a statewide effort which would provide the necessities of life to those in desperate need” guaranteeing shelter for every homeless person and family in the state. Ten months later, Dukakis signed what became known as “the right to shelter” law, which has now for 42 years mandated state officials to provide shelter and other necessities to homeless parents with children, pregnant women, and certain other citizens in need.

At the time of its passage, the need was high: the state was beginning to close its mental health institutions, like Northampton State Hospital, known as “deinstitutionalization,” and rising drug use had left people homeless and sleeping in the streets of cities across the state. There was no mention of undocumented or unvetted migrants. None.

When Governor Dukakis took office in 1983, Massachusetts supported two shelters for homeless people. By 1991, when he left office, there were more than 100 shelters, 70 of which were for families with children. I’m not sure who had the idea of letting 10 million undocumented, unvetted migrants into the country. At the end of the day, President Joe Biden gets the credit — or the blame. Clearly, it was not a good public policy for America or Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has now spent over $3 billion providing shelter to over 7,500 migrants. Gov. Healey and her team are not to blame, as many citizens in a recent statewide poll have concluded that she was, in fact, the blame. The State Republican Party is now using the issue to garner public support in an attempt to unseat the governor in 2026.

The “right to shelter” law was never intended for undocumented migrants. However, the governor followed the right humanitarian policy by providing shelter and not letting people die on the streets of Massachusetts. (Michael Albano is the former Mayor of Springfield. He also served on the Massachusetts Parole Board appointed by Governors King, Dukakis, and Weld)

Michael Albano, of Longmeadow, is the former mayor of Springfield. He also served on the Massachusetts Parole board appointed by Govs. King, Dukakis and Weld.