Gov. Maura Healey dispatched members of her administration to visit the southern border in Texas this week in an effort to make connections with federal immigration officials and “educate them” about shelter issues in Massachusetts, a spokesperson said.
Immigration
Massachusetts health agency inked multiple no-bid contracts for shelter system
The state’s health and human services agency greenlighted four no-bid contracts and an agreement to rent shelter space at a Quincy college for more than $237,000 a month as the Healey administration attempted to respond to an influx of migrants over the past year, according to documents obtained by the Herald.
Massachusetts conservatives knock ‘irresponsible spending’ on state-funded shelters
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. Dozens of contracts with social service organizations show nights at those sites can often run up to $300, a cost that includes food and supportive services.
Housing families in state-funded shelters in Mass. can cost taxpayers $300 a night
Nightly rates to house homeless families in hotels and motels can run hundreds of dollars, with agencies often baking in the cost of food and supportive services into the bill they hand to the state, according to contracts reviewed by the Herald.
Massachusetts housing department approved four no-bid contracts for migrant shelter crisis
Massachusetts’ statewide housing agency inked at least four no-bid contracts in the past year to stand up services at state-run emergency shelters amid an influx of migrants, including a $6.8 million deal with a Cape Cod cab company to provide free transportation to shelter residents.
Budget cuts on the table amid runaway migrant costs, Speaker says
House Speaker Ron Mariano suggested Thursday that broad budget cuts could be on the table when lawmakers sit down next year to draft the fiscal year 2026 budget, painting a grim financial picture for Massachusetts fueled by the historically high cost of running state-run shelters.
