According to a recent report, Massachusetts taxpayers make up a significant part of the funding for the state’s emergency shelter program, which is slated to cost around $1 billion in fiscal 2025. Governor Maura Healy’s administration has already spent $830 million since the fiscal year began on July 1, assisting over 4,000 families with taxpayer-funded shelters, food, education, legal assistance, and case management.
The average expenditure amounts to about $3,496 per family weekly, or around $1,000 per individual within the Emergency Assistance (EA) system.
The report, dated June 16, is a biweekly update from the Massachusetts Executive Office for residential and livable communities. It outlines that $679.6 million has gone to direct shelter costs, while another $149.7 million is allocated for wraparound services like educational support, job programs, and rental assistance.
Out of the 4,088 families in the program currently, roughly 1,600 are immigrants. However, this number may actually be higher, as these individuals are classified as “Massachusetts residents” for eligibility. The state has been overwhelmed by an influx of immigrants during the Biden administration, leading to many sleeping at Logan Airport while temporary shelters were arranged. Presently, around 599 hotel rooms are part of the shelter program, but all hotel shelters are expected to close by the end of this year.
The report mentions a reduction in the number of hotels used as shelters, dropping from a peak of over 100 to just 28. The administration aims to manage its caseload down to 4,000 families by the end of the year, with all hotel shelters shutting their doors.
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll emphasized the necessity of closing hotel shelters for the betterment of families and to save the state significant amounts of money annually. However, there are claims that the report reflects a low influx of new immigrants.
Tom Homan, from the Trump administration’s border control, noted a mere 95 illegal immigrants were encountered by border patrol in a single day, with none released to the U.S. last month. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennelly criticized the situation, stating that taxpayers are “bankrolling billions into an unexplainable, broken system that perpetuates the immigration crisis.” Meanwhile, Fox News reached out to Healy’s office for comments but did not receive an immediate reply.
The report also highlights that 1,599 individuals in the EA system are currently employed, with 2,270 immigrants holding work approvals. It predicts that Massachusetts will likely surpass $1.06 billion in expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30th.
