Boston (AP) Governor Maura Healey announced revisions to the state’s emergency family shelter system on Friday, phasing out the state’s reliance on hotels and motels to house the homeless over the next two years.
The Democratic governor claimed that the adjustments will help control expenses and assist more families in locating long-term, stable housing. Healey stated that up to 40 families first sought shelter each day, but the emergency assistance system has stayed stable at about 7,500 families. According to her, that figure has decreased in recent months to roughly 15–18 families per day.
Healey said in a statement that the state’s family shelter system has become more and more unsustainable in recent years. Significant steps have been taken to control its expansion, and the effects are evident.
Healey imposed a state of emergency last year, limiting the number of families that may stay in the shelter to 7,500. Additionally, the state has prohibited homeless families from spending the night at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
During the fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the state will gradually stop using hotels and motels to house homeless people, according to Healey. According to Healey, the facilities might be alienating and lack the space for services. According to her, providers will assist families in locating secure and long-term accommodation.
According to Healey, the government would also work to expand the state’s temporary rental subsidies. Families will be eligible for up to $25,000 in rental assistance annually for two years under the proposed adjustment. Right now, the payout is $30,000 spread over two or $45,000 spread over three years.
Depending on their requirements, homeless families will be assigned to either the Bridge Shelter Track or the Rapid Shelter Track starting on December 10, Healey said.
Families who can secure permanent home soon are the target of the Rapid Shelter Track. In order to facilitate their swift transfer to stable housing, they will be provided with 30 days of assistance.
Families with more complicated needs—such as those with late-term pregnancies or individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities—who might take longer to locate permanent accommodation are the target audience for the Bridge Shelter Track.
According to Gladys Vega, president of La Colaborativa, an immigrant assistance group based in Chelsea, Massachusetts, it’s imperative to keep a safety net in place for people who are having trouble locating affordable accommodation.
Families around the commonwealth are finding it more and more difficult to cover the expense of housing as rental costs continue to climb, according to Vega. Homelessness is just one paycheck away for many people in Massachusetts.
The surge in demand for homeless services in Massachusetts has been exacerbated by the state’s migrant population.
Healey said in June that families who were not given priority for placement in emergency assistance shelters will be allowed to stay at overflow facilities for a maximum of five days starting on August 1.
Healey stated that in order to preserve the emergency assistance system’s financial viability and address ongoing capacity issues, she was strengthening qualifying requirements.
The state also started restricting the duration of time homeless families could remain in shelters to nine months on June 1. Families are then eligible for a maximum of two extensions of ninety days.
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