The latest bi-weekly report on the Massachusetts Emergency Assistance shelter program was released on August 25th, with data current as of August 21st. It covers metrics from the preceding two weeks and provides ongoing insights into the program’s operations, caseloads, and costs amid efforts to manage family homelessness.
This system, established under a 1980s “right-to-shelter” law, primarily houses homeless families with children or pregnant women, including both long-term Massachusetts residents and recent migrants, refugees, or asylum seekers. The program faced significant strain in recent years due to an influx of migrants starting in 2022, leading to overflow into hotels and motels, but caseloads have since declined sharply following policy changes like length-of-stay limits and stricter eligibility rules.
The report lists the current weekly average cost per family at $3,359. Down from the $3,823 reported in July. This figure is calculated based on total expenses for the EA shelter program from the last full month with nearly all bills paid, divided by the number of families, and prorated to a weekly basis. It encompasses costs for shelter, food, education, legal aid, and other direct services…