Massachusetts to limit shelter stays to one-month increments

Massachusetts will soon start making adults in shelter prove they're getting jobs, or at least work authorization and training, every month if their families want to keep receiving help.

Why it matters: The state is trying to rein in its shelter spending, which has ballooned to $75 million a month.

• Thousands of families, just under half of the emergency family shelter population, are migrants.

Starting May 1, families in the family shelter system will be evaluated monthly to see if they are taking steps toward becoming independent, per the Healey administration.

• Those steps could include applying for work permits, doing a workforce training program or applying to jobs.
• Taking English classes and searching for housing also count.

Yes, but: The policy doesn't apply to families in sites run by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

The big picture: Massachusetts is one of several states where an influx of migrants is straining already crowded shelter systems.

• The pressure to address the swelling shelter population has prompted government officials to tap into savings and plead for federal aid .

Zoom in: The new policy comes as state lawmakers are debating how much funding to give and what limits to impose on the shelter system.

• The House approved $245 million for the shelter system with a nine-month cap for individuals and a year-long cap for families. Workers would get a single three-month extension.
• The Senate approved $825 million with a nine-month limit for most families. Veterans, pregnant people and others would qualify for additional extensions.

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