Press Release  Massachusetts Wins $20 Million in Federal Funding to Support Family Shelter Costs

Boston — Governor Maura Healey is today thanking the Biden-Harris administration for awarding Massachusetts more than $20 million from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program to support family shelter costs. The award includes $15,408,787 in competitive funding and $4,896,807.87 in reserve funding.

The Healey-Driscoll administration filed the application in June with the City of Boston. This is the largest award Massachusetts has won from this program to date, as the state and city previously won a total of $9 million.

“Massachusetts urgently needs federal support as we work to meet unprecedented demand on our family shelter system as a result of a surge in immigrant families arriving in our state. We’re grateful to the Biden-Harris administration and FEMA for this $20 million award and to the City of Boston and our Congressional delegation for their partnership and support,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Biden-Harris administration has taken important steps to address this federal problem in light of Congress’s failure to act, and they are seeing results with illegal border crossings down significantly. But more needs to be done. Congress needs to step up and pass the bipartisan border security agreement.”

"This FEMA award is a critical resource for Boston as we continue to serve immigrants arriving in the City. This funding will help support basic shelter, food and services that are especially important as we head into the colder months," said Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu. "We are grateful for our ongoing and comprehensive partnerships with both the State and our federal delegation as we all work together to respond to this ongoing crisis."
 

The Healey-Driscoll administration will use the federal funding to support its temporary respite centers. The City of Boston will receive $1,349,531.24 from the award. 

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