Massachusetts has implemented reforms to its emergency shelter system to phase out hotel and motel stays and curb costs that run about $1 billion annually. The changes, rolled out by the Democratic Healey administration, aim to make the system more sustainable by boosting rental assistance, creating a reserve account for shelter expenses, and shortening stays in traditional settings while extending stays in overflow sites.
The reforms come after the state’s Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs highlighted the need for change due to rising costs caused by an influx of migrant families to Massachusetts. The changes include assessing families entering the shelter system based on their risk and need and placing them in either a Rapid Shelter Track or a Bridge Shelter Track. Families in the Rapid Shelter Track will stay around 30 days, while those in the Bridge Shelter Track will stay for six months.
The administration plans to phase out hotels and motels as emergency housing starting next year and continuing into the 2026 budget year. The proposals are part of Healey’s supplemental shelter budget, which seeks to shorten long-term shelter stays, secure funding through 2025, and adjust the state’s HomeBASE system to aid families in finding stable housing.
These reforms are crucial as the incoming Trump administration prepares to address undocumented immigrant issues. The governor’s office clarified that new arrivals in the shelter system are legally in the United States, with about 65% of enrolled families being long-term Massachusetts residents. The changes aim to make the system more efficient and ensure that Massachusetts taxpayers are not burdened by the costs of emergency shelter.
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