"He has to stay at a friend's house for a week or two, because he can't stay in Cambridge without the subsidy" Cavellini said. "It's too expensive now for a family with three kids."

Cavellini said the family was not allowed to collect their belongings before being evicted on Tuesday. And he said his organization is currently trying to raise the $1200 fee required to get the belongings out of storage.

He also said the Desirs--who were released on $25 bail each, paid by the EFZ---had been injured by police officers as they were arrested. The couple was taken to Cambridge Hospital and Ms. Desir is wearing a sling on her arm.

While the Desirs had originally agreed to vacate the apartment in June, and had been granted extensions until August 9, Cavellini said the family's situation could have been resolved if they had more time.

He said the Desirs had asked to be allowed to remain in their apartment until Wednesday, when they were set to obtain new subsidy certificates that might have allowed them to find a new apartment in time.