Massachusetts to Close All Hotel and Motel Shelters

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced that all 32 remaining hotel and motel emergency shelters for families will close this summer, six months ahead of schedule. The closures are prompted by a significant drop in the number of families needing shelter, from a peak of 100 sites in 2023 to 32, with numbers expected to fall below 4,000 this summer. Reforms such as a six-month stay cap, tightened eligibility requirements, a cap on the number of families served, increased job placement, and enhanced case management have contributed to these declines. The use of hotels and motels as shelters was driven by a surge in migrant arrivals and escalating costs, which reached about $1 billion annually. State officials say the changes have helped families transition to stable housing and reduced financial pressures on the emergency system. The move marks a shift from Massachusetts’ previous right-to-shelter law and signals a broader change in the state's approach to family homelessness.