Poor Knewbee
BOSTON (WWLP) – The shelter crisis is costing the state millions and millions of dollars as more people enter the emergency assistance program. 22News has been reporting on this issue for several months and is providing an update on the current status.
Ratepayers fed up with high energy costs in Massachusetts
Two weeks ago, the state reported that they had spent $360 million on the shelter crisis. That number is now up to $395 million with seemingly no relief in sight. This week, the latest report came out, and individuals coming into the state and costs associated with that have not slowed down.
There are currently approximately 7,500 families in emergency shelter. According to the latest report, 3,745 families have entered the emergency assistance program as migrants, refugees, or asylum seekers. An increase of 28 families in two weeks. Not all those families are living in state shelter, many families are on a wait-list.
To put things into perspective, when the cap was reached in November, there were only 22 families on the wait list and now there are well over 700 families awaiting placement.
There have been discussions on Beacon Hill about modifying, or repealing, the state’s Right to Shelter law to stop the influx in individuals from outside of Massachusetts who are seeking shelter.
-CBS