I hope this email finds you well. As a constituent of yours I am writing to express my deep concern regarding right to shelter policies and urging you to take action to address this issue.
While the importance of immigration is fully acknowledged and it's easy to recognize its benefits to both immigrants and native-born Americans, the current right to shelter laws have consequences that are detrimental to both taxpayers and migrants alike.
These policies, by redistributing scarce housing resources to migrants at the expense of taxpayers, exacerbate the perception that immigrants are solely recipients of government assistance rather than active contributors to our state. This perception does nothing but undermine public support for immigration.
Moreover, the financial burden placed on taxpayers to fund these programs is significant, with a billion dollars being spent annually. As an average taxpayer, I feel the strain of supporting such programs, especially when there are alternative solutions that could be more effective and efficient.
Rather than perpetuating the dependency created by right to shelter laws, the state should focus on removing barriers that hinder migrants from achieving self-sufficiency.
Furthermore, I urge you to prioritize initiatives that promote the construction of affordable housing by streamlining regulations and incentivizing developers. By increasing the supply of housing stock, the state can address homelessness and housing insecurity in a sustainable manner without resorting to costly emergency shelters.
In conclusion, I strongly urge you to reconsider your support for right to shelter policies and instead advocate for solutions that prioritize taxpayers and self-sufficiency that empowers migrants to thrive in the state. Your leadership on this issue could make a significant difference for millions of taxpayers and migrants in Massachusetts.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, I look forward to hearing your response.
