Massachusetts Shelter Costs Soar Past $1B in FY25 Amid Migrant Influx

Massachusetts is grappling with a staggering $1 billion price tag for its emergency shelter program in FY25, driven largely by the needs of migrant families. The state has already shelled out $830 million since July 1, supporting over 4,000 families with shelter, food, education, legal aid, and more. That’s roughly $3,496 per week per family—a figure that’s raising eyebrows and tightening wallets across the Commonwealth.

Of these families, about 1,600 are migrants, though the real number may be higher as many are classified as state residents for eligibility. The costs break down to $679.6 million for direct shelter and $149.7 million for services like job programs and National Guard security. With 599 hotel rooms still in use, the state is phasing out these temporary shelters, down from a high of over 100 hotels. Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, vows to close all hotel shelters by year’s end, aiming to stabilize the system at 4,000 families.

The migrant surge, which overwhelmed the state during the Biden years, left many sleeping at Logan Airport. Now, with border crossings at historic lows—Border Patrol reported just 95 encounters in a single day—Massachusetts is shifting focus to long-term solutions. 1,599 individuals in the program are employed, and 2,270 migrants have work authorizations, signaling steps toward self-sufficiency.

Yet, the fiscal strain has sparked outrage. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy calls it a “broken system” that’s bleeding taxpayers dry, with costs hitting $15,166 per family per month. As FY25 wraps up on June 30, the state is on track to exceed $1.06 billion, a number that’s hard to swallow when families are pinching pennies for groceries.