The state pays local housing authorities to maintain and operate the units whether they’re occupied or not. As of the end of July, almost 1,800 of the vacant units had been empty for more than 60 days. Doris Romero, a housing coordinator at a Boston shelter, was stunned to hear about all the vacant apartments. People interested in housing had to apply to separate local housing agencies, often in person. Since then, Hedison and other local housing officials have cited a litany of problems.

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Persons: Deb Libby, Libby, she’s, ”, “, Doris Romero, ” Ed Augustus, Augustus, Maura Healey, WBUR, David Hedison, Maureen Cayer, Healey, “ It’s, WBUR’s Beth Healy, Paula Moura, Read Organizations: Gov, Housing, Worcester Locations: Worcester , Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Boston, New York , Connecticut, Hawaii, Chelmsford, Agawam, Western Massachusetts, Adams, New York, Lowell, Rhode