Shelter System, like the MBTA, is a Run Away Disaster Bankrupting our State

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance released the following statement in response to Governor Maura Healey’s latest announcement of reforms to the state’s out of control emergency shelter system. The Governor’s announcement comes after a steady stream of scandals emerged from within the state’s shelter system. Many of the Governor’s proposed “reforms” also come with major loopholes. The proposal gives the surface appearance of action when in fact, actual implementation will be far more complex.

“Governor Healey announced several reforms to emergency shelter eligibility but after reading some of them, it’s clear they will do nothing to fix the problem her administration has partially created. One of the Governor’s proposed reforms is to simply ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions. The Governor describes this as strengthening criminal background checks. This is laughable. What criminal would ever admit they have a criminal record from another country upon reaching Massachusetts to claim their winning lottery ticket of massive benefits and no accountability? This only shows the Governor has no real intent on meaningful change to our state emergency shelter system,” stated Paul Diego Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Another point the Governor proposes is implementing a statutory requirement of residency and intent to remain. The Governor wants taxpayers to think this is a residency requirement, but it has a rather large and vague exception. This exception is independent documentary verification that would show an intent to remain. The Governor isn’t fooling anyone with this latest set of reforms. The problems will continue to persist. The Governor is simply trying to sugarcoat talking points to try to make it seem like she is doing something. These reforms aren’t even worth the paper they are printed on,” concluded Craney.