$30K Per Migrant Family? Outrage Erupts!

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey faces mounting criticism for replacing expensive migrant hotel shelters with an even more costly program that hands out up to $30,000 in housing aid per migrant family, creating what critics call a “revolving door” policy that prioritizes illegal immigrants over struggling American families.

Story Snapshot

Massachusetts closed all migrant hotel shelters but expanded HomeBASE housing aid program offering up to $30,000 per migrant family over two years
HomeBASE spending skyrocketed from $9.5 million in 2022 to $97 million in 2025, with caseload jumping from 1,473 to 7,767
Republicans slam Healey for creating “shelters by another name” that burden taxpayers while migrants can’t legally work
Massachusetts remains the only state with a statewide right-to-shelter law, creating unique fiscal pressures during migrant surge

Costly Shell Game Disguised as Reform

Governor Healey announced the closure of all hotel shelters on August 1, 2025, ending the state of emergency declared in August 2023. However, the administration simultaneously expanded the HomeBASE rental assistance program to include migrants, offering up to $30,000 in housing aid over two years. Massachusetts GOP Chair Amy Carnevale condemned this approach as “shelters by another name,” arguing that Healey merely shifted costs rather than addressing the underlying crisis of prioritizing illegal immigrants over citizens.

Explosive Growth in Taxpayer-Funded Benefits

The HomeBASE program’s expansion represents a staggering increase in taxpayer burden. Spending surged from $9.5 million in 2022 to $97 million in 2025, while the caseload exploded from 1,473 families in January 2023 to 7,767 by April 2025. Critics note the fundamental flaw in this approach: migrants receiving these generous benefits face federal restrictions preventing them from working legally, creating long-term dependency on Massachusetts taxpayers while American families struggle with the nation’s most expensive housing market.

Constitutional Concerns Over Preferential Treatment

Massachusetts remains unique among all 50 states with its 1983 right-to-shelter law, originally intended to help homeless American families. The law’s exploitation to provide preferential treatment for illegal immigrants raises serious constitutional questions about equal protection and fiscal responsibility. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy warns that this policy lacks transparency and fiscal accountability, effectively creating a magnet effect that encourages more illegal immigration while straining resources meant for legal residents and citizens.

Political Reckoning for Failed Policies

The controversy highlights broader failures in immigration policy that prioritize virtue signaling over practical solutions. While Healey claims the shelter closures save taxpayers money, the HomeBASE expansion simply relocates costs while creating new problems in the rental market. Housing experts warn that flooding the market with taxpayer-funded rental assistance drives up costs for all residents, making it even harder for working American families to afford housing in an already overpriced market.

$30K in migrant housing aid has Dem gov on hot seat for 'revolving door' policy. "The abuse of taxpayer dollars, coupled with a stunning lack of oversight by ⁦@MassGovernor⁩ Healey and her administration, will define her legacy as governor." https://t.co/i3QiWOkQem

— Elaine S 🇺🇸 (@lainey116) August 7, 2025

This policy debacle demonstrates the unsustainable nature of progressive immigration policies that ignore fiscal reality and constitutional principles. As President Trump works to secure the border and prioritize American citizens, Massachusetts serves as a cautionary tale of how misguided compassion becomes taxpayer-funded enablement of illegal immigration at the expense of law-abiding families.