Two conservative groups in Massachusetts criticized the Healey administration over the “irresponsible” cost of housing homeless families, including migrants, at hotels and motels that make up part of the state-run shelter system.
Gov. Maura Healey has turned to 76 hotels and motels to bulk up the number of beds available under the state’s emergency shelter program. Many of the contracts with social services organizations indicate that nights can cost up to $300. This includes food and supportive service.
Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale said the nightly rate was “staggering” for a single family.
“The Healey-Driscoll administration’s inaction on this crisis isn’t just costing Massachusetts millions; it’s costing billions of dollars and it is not sustainable,” Carnevale said in a statement. “Residents will be seeing the consequences of this crisis through more budget cuts and higher taxes.”
According to Healey Administration data, more than 7,500 families were in state-funded housing but only half of them were migrants. The rest were local homeless residents. In the last year, over 3,800 families have been staying in hotels or motels.
