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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced On Friday, she made a series of major changes to the state's overwhelmed shelter system as her administration tries to become familiar with costs and space constraints exacerbated by the high cost of living in Massachusetts and the influx of migrants.
The administration will implement a two-track system for eligible families: one offering homeless and migrant families a 30-day stay in a shelter and the opposite a six-month stay. The state may even begin “phasing out” the usage of hotels and motels to accommodate families in need of shelter.
The protection system, expected to cost nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal 12 months 2025, has change into “increasingly unsustainable” in recent times, Healey said. Despite “significant action” and “tangible results,” the changes announced Friday are needed to contain costs and help more families find stable housing, she said.
“More must be done to ensure Massachusetts taxpayers do not continue to be responsible for this federal problem. The changes we are making will reduce costs, phase out the use of hotels and better meet the needs of all families,” Healey said in an announcement.
When the shelter system reached capability last 12 months, authorities arrange a series of emergency shelters across the state. In August, Healey introduced a brand new prioritization system for families, limiting stays on the overflow sites or “temporary recovery centers” to 5 days for those not prioritized. Now, families placed at these sites may have the choice to remain for 30 days under the two-track system.
Starting December 10, families applying for shelter might be “assessed based on risk and need” and assigned to either the Rapid Shelter Track or the Bridge Shelter Track. Families cannot choose from routes.
The Rapid Track is meant for families the state believes are well placed to quickly secure self-sufficient everlasting housing. You are offered 30 working days within the respite centers, although a certain extension is feasible.
The bridge route might be reserved for “high-risk families” and folks with “complex needs,” reminiscent of individuals with mental or developmental disabilities or women with late-term pregnancies. Those admitted on this direction are entitled to a six-month stay, subject to legislative approval.
In the spring, the legislature limited the length of stay for accommodation to nine months. The Healey administration now desires to lower that cap to 6 months.
“We want to make it clear to the families: We are looking for six [months] So no one feels like they don’t have the right expectations,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll . “We believe six months is achievable. I assume that if people find an apartment sooner than six months, they will accept it.”
Driscoll chaired the Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs, which issued a detailed report through the shelter system on Tuesday. Friday's announcement was made based on the recommendations set out in that report, the federal government said.
According to the info, almost half of the 7,115 families within the shelter system were staying in hotels and motels on Thursday Condition data. However, contracting with hotels has been the “most expensive accommodation model” and doesn’t provide a super environment for those looking for accommodation, officials said. Therefore, the usage of hotels might be slowly phased out in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The administration didn’t provide detailed explanations of how it will occur, but said the approach might be based on “discussions with providers” and that families might be notified of advance payment.
The government says it is targeted on expanding current programs to assist more families exit the shelter system. The commission's report found an “extraordinary increase” in monthly emergency shelters last 12 months, from a low of 163 in September 2023 to a high of 475 last September. A vital tool to assist families secure their housing is HomeBASEa program that gives money to cover rent, moving costs, utilities and furniture.
State officials at the moment are proposing legislative changes to HomeBASE that might increase temporary rental subsidies. Currently, families are eligible for a complete of $30,000 over two years or $45,000 over three years. The proposed changes would allow families to secure $25,000 per 12 months in rental assistance for 2 years.
image credit : www.boston.com