Emergency shelter inspections in January turned up cleanliness, pest concerns in Massachusetts

BOSTON — An inspection of state-run emergency shelters completed earlier this year after a migrant was arrested in Revere with a rifle and drugs turned up housekeeping concerns, pest issues, and what was first thought to be counterfeit cash, according to records obtained by the Herald.

Gov. Maura Healey ordered reviews of the hotels, motels, and congregate or scattered sites serving as shelters for homeless families after a Dominican man who was unlawfully in the country was arrested at a Revere shelter with a rifle and alleged stash of fentanyl worth $1 million.

Mark DeJoie, the CEO of the Lynn-based human services organization Centerboard, said the inspection of the shelter units his nonprofit serves found “routine maintenance and cleanliness issues.”

“We didn’t find weapons. We didn’t find guns. We ran through all our hotels. It just wasn’t there,” he told the Herald. “And then along the way, you found the housekeeping, the cleaning (issues).”

In response to a public records request, the Healey administration released two partially redacted spreadsheets that tracked the status of shelter inspections at hotels, motels, congregate sites, and scattered sites based on information handed over by each provider serving the system.

In one instance described in the records, officials at the YMCA of Greater Boston inspecting a shelter location found housekeeping issues and what they initially thought was counterfeit money.

“Also found counterfit (sic) money that was reported to the police and the police returned the money (seemed to be a non-issue). Incident report was submitted and non-compliance request submitted. (HLC inspection not needed, handeled (sic) at the provider level),” said the description of the inspection, which included several spelling errors.

YMCA of Greater Boston spokesperson Matt Wilder said personnel performing a routine inspection found “potential counterfeit money” in one of the organization’s housing units.

“This matter was immediately referred to the Boston Police Department as well as the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities,” Wilder said in a statement. “It was investigated by the Boston Police Department and determined to be unfounded.”

An inspection conducted at one hotel served by Centerboard apparently turned contentious, the inspection records show.

“Participant punched a staff person, who was upset about having to participate in the room inspection by staff. Incident report submitted, police report filed, family transfered externally to a congregate. Provider is in progress to issue a non-compliance,” the records said, which included the spelling errors.

DeJoie said staff visits and inspections of shelter rooms can sometimes stress families out.

“I don’t think anything came of it,” he said of the incident described in the inspection records.

Shelter providers also regularly noted cleanliness concerns at state-run shelter sites.

At scattered shelter sites served by Peabody-based Citizens Inn, staff members said they found two units “unkempt” with holes in the walls.

The providers who conducted the inspection said they filed reports with the Department of Children and Families on two families multiple times and each filing had been “screened out,” according to the records.

“We also continue to support the families by providing them with cleaning products, etc. The condition of both units is a result of the family’s lack of consistent housekeeping. There is no imminent concern for health and safety. Family is in process for exiting to housing,” the inspection records said.

At a hotel or motel served by Ascentria Care Alliance, officials documented housekeeping and pest concerns, the smell of cigarettes and cigarette residue, and alcohol.

“Team is working with the families in addressing the (uniform shelter rules). Written warning issued for household with alcohol found. Re-Inspection of one room and written reminder of non-smoking policy. 2 rooms scheduled for treatment for pests,” the inspection records said.

A spokesperson for Ascentria Care Alliance said the issues identified in the inspection were “addressed immediately, and corrective actions were taken to ensure the situation was properly managed.”

“In accordance with established shelter rules and guidelines, the residents involved were placed on a warning status. This step is part of our standard protocol to ensure a safe and respectful living environment for everyone in our care,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

During a review of a site served by the Waltham-based Middlesex Human Service Agency, providers said they had one unit with an issue.

“Person termminated-removed from the emergency assistance household for (domestic violence) but refusing to leave and squatting in the unit – (head of household) and children were transfered,” the records said, which included the spelling errors.

Middlesex Human Service Agency did not respond to Herald inquiries Monday.

A spokesperson for the state’s housing office said the inspections conducted in January found no criminal activity and were done at a time when there were roughly 6,500 families in the system. Healey’s office previously said no major issues popped up during the review.

The spokesperson also said residents in emergency shelters are required to keep their rooms clean and sanitary with providers responsible for providing the necessary equipment and supplies to do so.

Healey ordered the shelter inspections after police arrested Leonardo Andujar Sanchez of the Dominican Republic for allegedly possessing five kilos of fentanyl and an assault rifle while staying at an emergency shelter in Revere.

Federal officials previously said he unlawfully entered the country through an unknown location on an unknown date.

A lawyer for Sanchez has promised to fight charges filed against him.

But the arrest sparked a wave of criticism and concern over security in state-run emergency shelters, which were set up under a decades-old law meant to provide temporary housing to homeless families with children and pregnant women.

Days after Healey called for the inspections in January, her administration made public a trove of documents that detailed more than 1,000 serious incidents in shelters, including disturbing details about allegations of physical and sexual assault, rape, and domestic violence.

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