$30,000 Housing Assistance Boost Available for Migrants in Massachusetts

Migrants in Massachusetts who are living in emergency shelters may be eligible for a state-run program that provides up to $30,000 over two years to secure stable housing.

HomeBASE, the program in place for homeless families with children or pregnant women, provides temporary housing under Massachusetts' decades-old right-to-shelter law, according to state officials.

A pilot program is also in the works between resettlement agencies and Gov. Maura Healey's administration to support up to 400 migrants with one year of case management to help them find long-term housing.

The program aims to make use of HomeBASE to help migrant families with children.

The HomeBASE program offers assistance with:

• a family’s first and last month’s rent
• security deposit
• broker’s fee for a new apartment
• monthly payments that can assist with rent for up to two years

The possibility of a third year of support exists.

The program can also help with furniture, moving expenses, and utilities based on a family’s needs, including overdue rent or utility payments.

Unlike traditional cash assistance, HomeBASE pays landlords or vendors directly. To be eligible for the program, a family must either be living in or meet the documentation requirements for the state-run emergency shelter system.

Additionally, families in non-emergency domestic violence shelters or residence use treatment programs may qualify.

Healey's efforts to reduce the number of families in the emergency shelter system saw the cap set last year at 7,500 while waiting for temporary housing while shelters reach their capacity.

As of Thursday, there were 714 families on the waitlist, according to the state's housing department, who can be given access to overflow shelter sites at the Melnea Cass Recreation Center as well as at sites in Quincy and Cambridge. Other sites, including empty office space in the Seaport, are being considered.

Overall, this program can be a lifeline for migrant families spending time in emergency shelters and is a laudable effort to provide stable housing for those who need it most. The work being done in Massachusetts is an excellent example for other states to follow.