Massachusetts will phase out use of hotels and motels to shelter homeless families, governor says
BOSTON — Massachusetts’ reliance on hotels and motels to shelter the homeless will be phased out over the coming years, Gov. Maura Healey said Friday, outlining changes to the state’s emergency declaration. family care system.
The Democratic governor said the changes would help more families find stable, permanent housing and manage costs. Healey said the emergency response system has remained stable at about 7,500 families, with up to 40 families initially seeking shelter per day. In recent months, that average has dropped to about 15 to 18 families per day, she said.
“In recent years, the state’s family shelter system has become increasingly unsustainable,” Healey said in a statement. “We have taken significant steps to curb its growth, and we have seen tangible results.”
Last year, Healey declared a state of emergencywhich limits reception capacity to 7,500 families. The state has also excluded homeless families of a night’s sleep at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Healey said the state will phase out the use of hotels and motels to house homeless people in the 2025 and 2026 budget years. The facilities lack the space for services and can be isolating, Healey said. She said providers will work with families to find safe and stable housing.
The government will also push for an increase in the state’s temporary housing subsidy, Healey said. Under the proposed change, families would be eligible for up to $25,000 in housing assistance per year for two years. The current benefit totals $30,000 over two or $45,000 over three years.
Starting Dec. 10, homeless families will be placed on a “Rapid Shelter Track” or “Bridge Shelter Track” depending on their needs, Healey said.
The Rapid Shelter Track is designed for families who have the resources to quickly find permanent housing. They are offered 30 days of support to help them make a quick transition to stable housing.
The Bridge Shelter Track is intended for families with more complex needs who may take longer to find permanent housing – including women in late pregnancy and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Gladys Vega, president of La Colaborativa, an immigrant aid organization in Chelsea, Massachusetts, said it is critical to maintain a safety net for those who struggle to find housing they can afford.
“As rents continue to rise, families across the Commonwealth are increasingly finding themselves unable to meet the costs of housing,” Vega said. “Many Massachusetts residents are just one paycheck away from homelessness.”
Massachusetts is struggling to cope with a spike in demand for homeless services – partly due to the influx of migrants into the state.
In June, Healey announced that starting August 1, families who were not prioritized for placement in emergency shelters would be eligible to stay at overflow sites for just five days.
Healey said she tightened eligibility restrictions in the emergency response system due to the system’s “ongoing capacity constraints” and the need to protect its financial sustainability
Starting June 1, the state also began limiting how long homeless families can stay in shelters nine months. After that, families are eligible for up to two 90-day extensions.