The emergency shelter and intake center opening later this month in Devens to accommodate a burgeoning number of migrants in Massachusetts will incorporate distinct spaces to connect people to stable housing resources.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced the initiative last month, days after he filed a $139 million fiscal 2023 budget to respond to a growing humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by Massachusetts status as a right-to-shelter state and the substantially increased demand on the emergency assistance shelter system.

But it remains unclear exactly what date the shelter, overseen by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, will open for migrants and people experiencing homelessness. A state official told MassLive Monday preparations are underway to launch the shelter this month, but no firmer timeframe is available yet due to ongoing site planning and permitting processes.Read more: Healey committed to equitable clean energy transition, Gina McCarthy says

By creating a centralized space to conduct intake activities before families are placed in their emergency assistance site, we will be able to better assess the needs of these individuals and better prepare communities for the arrival of families to shelter sites in their city or town, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy said in a statement last month.

The Bob Eisengrein Community Center, capable of housing about 60 families or up to 125 individuals, will be transformed into temporary shelter space with sleeping cots, pillows, clean linens and towels, the state official told MassLive. There will be portable shower units, space for three daily meals and recreation areas.

In a separate dedicated space, the Multi-Agency Resource Center will feature meeting rooms and computers, the official said.Read more: Mass. Attorney General-elect Andrea Campbell unveils transition plans

Housing and human service organizations will use these areas for case management and registration for applicable services, the official said. Eligible individuals, for example, can be enrolled in state benefits.

The community center will also offer private spaces for individuals to receive health and mental health assessments, among other care needs, the official said.Read more: Gov.-elect Maura Healey transition teams start meeting with inauguration in January

Baker has urged the Massachusetts Legislature to pass his supplemental budget proposal, which incorporated $20 million for the central intake center, $73 million to expand overall shelter capacity, and $37 million to help transition migrant children into local schools.

We believe at this point we have a very significant problem… Baker told reporters last week. I do think Massachusetts is gonna need a lot more capacity. I dont like putting families in hotels and motels. Its one of the fundamental things that we went after when we took office, that we basically eliminated the use of hotels and motels and got people into residential housing, and scattered sites and locations, that felt a lot more like where youd want to put kids.