Usage and cost of the Massachusetts HomeBASE Program, used to re-house families in (or eligible for) the emergency shelter system, exploded during the migrant crisis—rising from $12 million in 2022 to $101 million in 2025 — as it served thousands of eligible migrant families as a key “off-ramp” from overwhelmed shelters, helping reduce strain on the system while the shelter population roughly doubled before later declining.
What is the HomeBASE Program?
The Massachusetts HomeBASE program is a state-funded re-housing initiative that helps families experiencing homelessness secure stable housing quickly and avoid or exit the Emergency Assistance (EA) Family Shelter system, which includes motels and shelters…