Report: Massachusetts to spend $1.06 billion on shelter in FY2025

Per the June 16, 2025, biweekly update from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), Massachusetts is projected to spend $1.06 billion on its Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program in FY25 (which ends on June 30), with $830 million already spent since July 1, 2024, to house over 4,000 families.

The shelter program costs approximately $3,496 per week per family, or $1,000 per person per week, covering shelter, food, education, legal aid, and case management. Direct shelter costs account for $679.6 million, with $149.7 million spent on wraparound services like education, work programs, and security.

Approximately 1,600 of the 4,088 families in the EA system are migrants, although the actual number may be higher, as some are classified as “Massachusetts residents” for eligibility purposes. The state faced challenges accommodating migrants during the Biden administration, with many initially sleeping at Logan Airport.

1,599 individuals in the EA system are employed, and 2,270 migrants have received work authorizations, aiding their transition out of the system.

The report notes a significant drop in new migrant arrivals, with border crossings at historic lows. The Trump administration’s border czar reported only 95 illegal immigrants encountered in a single day and no releases into the U.S. last month.