On November 19, the Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs released its final report. The commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, approved a report with 10 broad recommendations.
The report underscores the escalating costs of the current EA system. For fiscal year (FY) 2025, the projected cost of maintaining the system is $1.094 billion, far exceeding the $326 million appropriation. Bridging this gap would require depleting the Transitional Escrow Fund (TEF), creating a projected $693 million deficit for FY 2026.
In response to these financial challenges, the commission proposed several cost-saving measures. These include implementing a needs-based shelter model, reducing the reliance on hotels and motels and enhancing prevention, diversion, and exit strategies. Additionally, the commission recommended strengthening access to affordable housing and improving the regional EA shelter management model. Other structural changes include increasing transparency in the system by collecting more data and setting clear expectations for both providers and families. To read the full report from the EA Commission, please click here.
After the report was released, Governor Healey announced she will seek to limit homeless and migrant families from nine to six-month stays in Massachusetts’ emergency shelter system.
For more information on the shelter limit proposal, please click here.
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