February in the Massachusetts shelter system by the numbers
BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP)–According to a February 10 Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EA) report, 6,141 families are currently being housed in shelters, hotels, or motels in Massachusetts.
This most recent estimate comes after the House and Senate approved separate versions of a $425 million budget infusion for the system. Included in the supplemental budget is a set of reforms that looks to lower shelter capacity, increase background checks, and increase eligibility requirements.
Senate loads reform bill with shelter reporting requirements
Families are sorted into two tracks within the shelter system based on their level of need: Bridge and Rapid track.
Bridge track families are considered to have higher or more complex needs, and permitted to stay in traditional shelters for up to six months. 5,894 families are currently in the Bridge track.
Rapid track families are determined to have lower support needs, and are permitted to stay in temporary shelter sites for up to 30 days. 247 Rapid track families are currently in the system.
Both tracks have the overarching goal of making shelter stays rare, brief, and non-recurring, and aim to give families the resources they need to acquire stable housing and employment.
In western Massachusetts, the following towns and cities have families in the Bridge track:
Amherst: 5
Chicopee: 59
Greenfield: 18
Holyoke: 168
Northampton: 19
Pittsfield: 26
South Hadley: 5
Springfield: 248
West Springfield: 53
There are currently no Rapid track families at temporary respite centers in western Massachusetts.
One report also tracked how much additional funding was needed in school districts to support EA students from September to November of 2024.
In western Massachusetts, the following additional funding was required for the September-November 2024 time period:
Chicopee: $260,757
Franklin: $405,190
Greenfield: $191,319
Hadley: $28,530
Holyoke: Noted on report, but this time period did not have an estimate.
Northampton: $68,598
Pittsfield: Noted on report, but this time period did not have an estimate.
West Springfield: $331,767
In total since October 2022, Massachusetts has spent over $57.5 million in supplemental funding for school districts across the state. In fiscal year 2024, the state spent $856.8 million on the system. According to the report, fiscal year 2025's project costs will be around $1.064 billion.
These reports are published every two weeks by the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus and Executive Office for Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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