In this Boston Globe Letter to the Editor, MLRI Executive Director Georgia Katsoulomitis calls attention to the $20 million in federal funds secured by Governor Healey to help keep families in Massachusetts in emergency shelter, while still reminding us that this fight is not over.

$20m in federal funds — a small, welcome contribution to a huge challenge

Kudos to Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu not only for securing more than $20 million in federal funds to help keep families in Massachusetts in emergency shelters but also for reminding all of us that this battle is not over (“US approves $20m in Mass. family shelter aid,” Metro, Aug. 29). Yes, $20 million is a Band-Aid on a gaping wound, but if it helps more parents and children avoid the scarring nightmare of looking for a place to sleep, it will be meaningful.

At the same time, we cannot give up the battle to keep these families from wandering the streets at night and sleeping on sidewalks. We need to keep working. This grant is a clarion call to every single entity in Massachusetts to continue every effort to find the resources to get through this humanitarian crisis without punishing the most vulnerable among us — children.

As Healey noted, the Biden-Harris administration is “seeing results with illegal border crossings down significantly.” But, the governor added, “more needs to be done.” That “more” should come in the form of grants, donations, and government appropriations. It is incumbent on all of us to keep trying.

Georgia Katsoulomitis