Massachusetts Ends Migrant Shelter Emergency, Closes Hotels

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the closure of all hotel shelters for migrants and the formal end of the state of emergency declared in August 2023 to address the surge in migrant families requiring emergency shelter. The shelter crisis, driven by a spike in immigration and housing shortages, led to a peak of over 7,600 families in the system, but reforms including caps on shelter populations, criminal background checks, workforce training, and housing assistance have reduced this number to just over 3,100 families, months ahead of the original timeline. Healey emphasized that these changes have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and helped families move toward self-sustainability. The administration also closed rapid shelter sites at former correctional facilities and implemented restrictions requiring legal status and residency proof for shelter access. The state of emergency had enabled expedited contracting and federal aid access, which will now cease, marking a significant shift from the emergency response phase. Despite criticisms over shelter conditions and safety concerns, Healey credited the combination of policy reforms and support programs for managing the crisis and reducing reliance on temporary hotel accommodations.