HADLEY — A regional service provider will begin offering assistance to the 11 families living at the Knights Inn on Route 9, the next step in meeting the needs of those who have been at the motel since mid-October as part of the state’s emergency shelter system.

State Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, told the Select Board Wednesday that the service provider, whose identity will become public once a contract is signed, will be a “game changer,” in part because Massachusetts National Guard members will be able to leave the location.

“In some ways, I’m breathing my own sigh of relief for Hadley,” Comerford said. “Because I work for the town, I’m glad for this.”

Comerford said Gov. Maura Healey is implementing a cap of 7,500 families in the emergency shelter system because there is a shortage of service providers who can help people in the families get jobs and eventually stable housing.

“A good outcome for Hadley is to get a provider on,” Comerford said.

Comerford observed that families who have been living at the Days Inn in Greenfield since June have worked with the Center for New Americans on their English and the MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center to get jobs.

“There’s a quick hustle to move folks into a place where they can have more autonomy. Everyone to a person who I’ve met wants to work,” Comerford said.

But the federal government must expedite work permits and also provide money to support the families and whatever costs are borne by the town, she said.

Since notified Oct. 11 that the vacant motel would be a shelter, Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan said she put together a task force so a humane response could be made, adding that the decision was not Hadley’s or the Legislature’s.

“The town had no choice. This was a private transaction,” Brennan said, adding that there will be a meeting on-site with the service provider on Friday.

One of those who has taken a lead is Superintendent Anne McKenzie. She said of the 32 individuals at the motel, half are under the age of 21.

“I have been overwhelmed with gratitude and just touched by the compassion of the people of Hadley,” McKenzie said.

Having an on-site coordinator will be seamless, she said, noting there has already been orientation for students, and students have integrated well into the community.

“This has really not been disruptive for the schools,” McKenzie said.

She said that there are 53 new students this school year, many who have come to Hadley schools via school choice, with 18 starting their education in town after the first day of school.

“Students coming throughout the school year is nothing new, and we certainly can handle that,” she said.

The district will be getting additional funding to meet the educational needs.

Still, the discussion came as some residents expressed worries.

Brenda Fydenkevez of Rocky Hill Road said she is concerned about the community’s safety and speaks for those who are unhappy about the federal government allowing people to cross the southern and northern borders.

“How is that going to impact us and did anyone do an investigation into where these people came from?” Fydenkevez said. “I know there are a lot of people furious about this, who are upset about this.”

She also worries that Hadley taxpayers will pay.

Tony Fyden of Cold Spring Lane said while he appreciates that Hadley is caring for the children and families, he doesn’t understand why the state set up an emergency shelter in Hadley without asking. Either Northampton or Amherst, self-declared sanctuary cities that limit their cooperation with immigration authorities, should have been approached instead, he said.

“It does bother people when we are not asked,” Fyden said, adding that the Knights Inn previously wasn’t up to the standards for an emergency shelter.

Building Commissioner Tom Quinlan Jr. acknowledged that the motel should be sprinklered due to a change in use, but the town had no control over that, pointing to May 9 guidance that such a shelter doesn’t have to be brought up to code. “My hands are tied,” Quinlan said.

McKenzie said anyone worried about public safety should know that those living at the motel are vetted through the Department of Homeland Security and both the police department and public health department are involved in the task force.

Select Board member Joyce Chunglo said she is proud of the town’s response.

“Hadley stepped up to a situation that was handed to us, and I think our command force has done an outstanding job taking this situation and making it humane and making it better for these people who came here,” Chunglo said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.