BOSTON - The heavily scrutinized right-to-shelter law in Massachusetts would change significantly under a new proposal shared by Gov. Maura Healey Wednesday. The policy that became law in 1983 guarantees emergency housing to homeless families and pregnant women.

The governor of Massachusetts has proposed that at least one member of a family staying in emergency shelters be in the country legally, hardening her stance at a time when concerns were raised about the safety at the facilties.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is hardening her approach to the state’s migrant crisis in the face of mounting safety concerns and just days before President-elect Trump is sworn into office.

Less than a week after condemning security concerns surrounding a lack of background checks performed at shelters, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is proposing changes to the state's right-to-shelter law.

Governor Maura Healey said the right-to-shelter laws' “original intent” was not to cover the “waves and waves of people,” including migrant families, who have come into the state in recent years.

The residency requirements could effectively end the law as it's currently applied, meaning newly arrived immigrants could be ineligible for beds. The post Healey proposes major changes to right-to-shelter law,

Maura Healey on Wednesday asked lawmakers to limit emergency shelter to Massachusetts residents, among other major changes to the state's right-to-shelter law. Why it matters: The emergency shelter system has come under scrutiny in recent years for expanding to house thousands of migrants fleeing their native countries,