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Massachusetts emergency family shelter system costs officially surpass $1 billion a year
By Sam Drysdale
As emergency family shelter system costs officially surpass $1 billion a year, a new commission formed to explore the struggling system will have its first meeting Thursday.
The commission was established in a supplemental budget passed in April that also injected $251 million more into the shelter system and established new time limits on how long families can stay in the state-supported housing.
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will chair the commission, which is charged with studying the shelter program’s future, and was sworn in Tuesday to lead the group. Driscoll will swear in other members of the commission at their inaugural meeting on Thursday.
The commission, per the law passed in April, will “review: (i) the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of the emergency housing assistance program; (ii) how to best support and ensure the long-term sufficiency of those seeking shelter; and (iii) creating a regional based response to support families in need of shelter.”
Their scope also includes reviewing safety practices and procedures at emergency shelters and overflow sites.
The commission is required to deliver a report on the shelter system by December 1.
The emergency family shelter system has been buckling under the weight of a flood of new arrivals from other countries over the past two years. Gov. Maura Healey effectively ended the spirit of the state’s 40-year-old right to shelter law last year when she capped the system at 7,500 families. A waitlist to get into shelter has been growing since the limits were put into place, and the same law that created the commission also newly specified that families could only live in the state-funded housing for nine months, with a few exceptions.
With the migrant crisis taking unpredictable turns, state shelter system and related costs topped $1 billion in fiscal year 2024, including dollars to support municipalities and school districts that have made room for new families, according to the most recent report out of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The office estimates the state will spend $915 million on the crisis in fiscal 2025.
The agenda for Thursday’s meeting includes the swearing in of members, an overview of the history of the Emergency Assistance program, its fiscal history and the policies shelters have to follow, and a discussion of the commission’s future goals.
The commission’s roster includes Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowitz. Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants Director Cristina Aguilera is also on the commission. Joint Committee on Housing Co-chairs Lydia Edwards and Jim Arciero, and Joint Committee on Children, Families & Persons with Disabilities Co-chairs Robyn Kennedy and Jay Livingstone will also be sworn in on Thursday.
The Republican minority leaders in each chamber appointed Sen. Ryan Fattman and Rep. Paul Frost to join the commission.
The governor appointed an additional three members: president and executive director of the homelessness shelter the Pine Street Inn, Lyndia Downie; CEO of the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Leah Bradley; and pastor and founder of Haitian community advocacy center True Alliance Center, Inc., “Keke” Dieufort Fleurissaint.
The majority of immigrants coming into Massachusetts and looking for shelter in the state’s Emergency Assistance system are from Haiti.
[Sam Doran contributed to reporting]
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MortisMaximus
July 17, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Anyone driving the roads of Massachusetts? How about your property tax bill, like the increases? Failure at every level of government under democratic rulers. Are we really electing this incompetence? Are these “leaders” being selected?
What?
July 17, 2024 at 10:43 pm
This is so sustainable, I think every state and city should adopt this well thought out plan. Kudos.
Dr David
July 18, 2024 at 12:09 am
Wow, this is very upsetting news that Maura Healy permanently damaged the financial and social fabric of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by turning it into a Sanctuary State for unvetted ILLEGAL ALIENS so she could be nominated by the next ballot-harvested Biden Administatration to be the first Leftist Marxist Lesbian Attorney General.
However, now that Dementia Joe Biden is imploding before the world it may be that the Demon Rats may not be able to steal another presidential election
So for the billion in the hole and counting as well as the permanent social damage to Massachusetts we don’t even get to break some kind of communist lesbo glass ceiling?? this really sucks
Jeanne Mann
July 18, 2024 at 11:08 pm
Donate to the felon
Johnson’s Johnson
July 19, 2024 at 12:31 pm
I’ll gladly vote for the “felon” before voting for the party making a mess of this great nation. Democrats continue to pick the pockets of the middle class to support their pandering for votes. The democrats are stuffing millions of illegals into small towns across the country with the intent to register them to vote. They want ballots. That’s their game plan.. generate ballots
MortisMaximus
July 19, 2024 at 4:51 pm
Give us your address and the check will be in the mail! Buzz off moron!
Stew B
July 18, 2024 at 1:16 am
this is housing for illegal immigrants. hotels like the Fairfield Inn are filled, owners getting paid upwards of $5,000 a month per room. this doesn’t include provided food. This is tax payer funded human trafficking.
Gary
July 18, 2024 at 9:49 am
“Welcome”
‘To Gov. Healey’s, Biden/Harris, and DEMS America!’
Their goes another ”UHAUL Leaving Blue State ‘Massghanistan’!”
“Massachusetts Democrat Governor Maura Healey Approves Millions in New Spending on Illegal Immigrants as Residents Flee State”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/massachusetts-democrat-governor-maura-healey-approves-millions-new/
Just another Day in “Massghanistan Paradise” & Pay Your HIGH Tax Bills!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgXEAGA95Pg
Gary
July 18, 2024 at 9:58 am
“THINKING”
“Great Americans Suffering in Biden/Dems Economy”
Billions for “Open Borders Folks”!
“Worst Economy I Have Seen!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv553lFSaOg
“Significant USA FOOD Bank Line”!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoZUQwEjc6k
Paul
July 18, 2024 at 9:13 pm
They say each illegal Haitian family receives approximately $10,000 a month in benefits. Not to mention they’re also receiving massive tax refunds cause of the child tax credit and are having more kids everyday. Check out all of their new vehicles they’re able to buy with their EBT money. When you have no bills to pay and are given everything for free of course they can buy a vehicle with cash. It’s beyond unbelievable.
Kimberly Johnson
July 18, 2024 at 11:52 pm
It crazy and we can’t even get that that why they are. Sleeping at different places in mass but she said no more Tuesday 90 more Haitian she unbelievable shelter our state get like this she need to be fire for real leave Massachusetts dry and she still taking them she aliar she doesn’t care what so ever as longer her bank account is Kool screw us then none of them need to be in shelter take money and get apartment get out them out our shelter half them going back if Donald Trump comes back..they cut our foodstamps to give to them that crazy this is bad they have enough to pay rent pay and last security first security come on so why are they living in shelter they get that much money a month they can pay rent
Dex Galiotte
July 19, 2024 at 12:24 am
This is ridiculous, we should never elected her , she’s doing a horrible job , we need to impeach the governor, what are we getting as Americans, we don’t get anything. This nonsense need to stop . Biden need to go ….period …. The Governor need to resign immediately
MortisMaximus
July 19, 2024 at 4:53 pm
Who said she wasn’t selected instead of elected?
Katherine D drew
July 19, 2024 at 3:49 am
This is just insane. My elderly mothers tax bill just increased so much family has had to step in to keep her in her home. Massachusetts should be ashamed.
Jeff collins
July 19, 2024 at 9:03 am
More of the same for the liberals have done it again Totally RIDICULOUS they should e camping in the governors property LETS FACE IT PEOPLE IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO GO YOU PAY FOR THEM PERIOD put that into your pipe and smoke it
Johnson’s Johnson
July 19, 2024 at 12:33 pm
“The adults are back in charge”
-Mainstram media circa January 2021