As Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy closes immigration shelters in the state’s sanctuary program, critics argue that she may be merely transferring costs to a program that could give qualifying families up to $30,000 in housing aid over two years. The spending on the home-based assistance program skyrocketed from $9.5 million in 2022 to $97 million, as reported by state data.
Families in Massachusetts shelters have been proposed for $30,000 in rental assistance over two years, with caseloads in the Homebase program increasing by over 400%—from 1,473 in January 2023 to 7,767 by April 2025. Some families might also be eligible for an extra $15,000 in a potential third year of support, but plans indicate that this third year could be suspended in July.
In response to these changes, Massachusetts GOP Chairman Amy Carnevale criticized the Homebase program, calling it “a shelter under alias.”
She mentioned that taxpayers are essentially offering immigrant families nearly unlimited rental assistance while federal policies prevent immediate work permits for these families. “We have yet to resolve the immigration shelter crisis, and these cost shifts don’t demonstrate strong leadership,” she added.
Healy announced the closure of the last hotel shelters in Massachusetts as part of an effort that began amid a Biden-era immigration influx.
In a recent email to Fox News Digital, Carnevale continued her criticism, saying that despite claims of resolution, there persists a concerning lack of transparency. “Healy should be clear about whether similar oversight issues are happening within the Homebase program,” she stated.
“The lack of oversight by Healy’s administration means that the misuse of taxpayer money will impact her legacy as governor,” she asserted.
John Featherton, a former director of a Massachusetts immigration shelter, echoed these concerns, highlighting how the Homebase program, instead of creating stability, has turned into a stopgap for short-term assistance. Many immigrants, he explained, tend to use most of the $30,000 for initial expenses, finding it difficult to stay in their homes after just a few months.
“What was marketed as a solution—saving money, cutting down dependence on shelters, and aiding immigrant families—has proven to be quite the opposite. Homebase has devolved into a bloated and poorly managed initiative, failing both taxpayers and the immigrants it was designed to help,” he noted.
He added that taxpayers are left with hefty bills and minimal accountability from the program. “This isn’t a genuine lift; rather, it sets many up for potential failure,” he concluded.
Fox News Digital reached out to Healy’s office for comments but did not receive a response by the publication’s deadline.
