BOSTON, MA — Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale accused Gov. Maura Healey of hypocrisy after the release of a new state report claiming that migrant shelter costs are falling, pointing to the drastic increase in spending in the state’s HomeBASE program, which provides rental assistance to families transitioning out of the shelter system.

According to the report, Massachusetts is on pace to spend $97 million on the HomeBASE program in the current fiscal year, a tenfold increase since FY2022, when the state spent approximately $9.5 million housing at-risk families.

“The migrant shelter crisis is not over, and cost-shifting is not leadership,” declared Chair Amy Carnevale. “As much as Maura Healey would like the public to think she is improving the system, the data tells a different story. Instead, this is simply shelters by another name: Taxpayers are giving migrant families nearly limitless free rental assistance. Meanwhile, federal action means these families won’t be receiving work permits anytime soon. It’s time for voters to reject Maura Healey’s failed approach and return a Republican governor to the corner office, where bipartisan reform will bring this human tragedy to an end.”

BACKGROUND:

• On Tuesday the Healey administration released a report showing that the state’s HomeBASE program has swelled to $97 million in the current fiscal year. (Boston Herald, 6/18/25)

• Historical state budget data shows that Massachusetts spent $9.5 million on HomeBASE safety net expenses in FY22. (Mass.gov)