All three Fall River State Reps vote for $425 million Massachusetts emergency shelter funding

All three Fall River State Reps last Thursday voted to approve Governor Healey’s request for $425 million Massachusetts emergency shelter funding that has cost taxpayers at least $2.5 billion the past few years. Representative Alan Silvia, Carole Fiola, and Steven Ouellette voted yes to provide the additional funds that mostly house non-US citizens who have traveled to Massachusetts for free hotels that cost about $120,000 per family each year. The $425 million will fund the shelter system until June.

Democrats shot down Republican-led efforts that would have broadened criminal background checks for shelter residents, allowed ICE into shelters to remove undocumented immigrants, and slashed the appropriation amount while reforms are implemented.