Governor Maura Healey has reduced the cap on Massachusetts' emergency shelter system to 5,800 families, a 20% decrease from a previous maximum of 7,500. New regulations require applicants to consent to criminal background checks (CORI checks) or risk exclusion from the program. Applicants convicted of serious crimes like murder or rape will also be disqualified. These measures come amid a decline in families seeking shelter. The administration's goal is to further reduce the shelter system to 4,000 families while eliminating hotel shelters altogether by year's end, supported by a $425 million supplemental budget.
"These changes will empower our team to keep families, staff and communities safe by enhancing our criminal background check process and disqualifying anyone who has been convicted of a serious crime."
The administration is on track to reduce the caseload to 4,000 families and eliminate all hotel shelters by the end of the year.
Families will not be eligible for emergency assistance if they fail to consent to a CORI check or if they have been convicted of a serious crime.
Governor Maura Healey made a significant reduction in the number of families allowed to access the state-run emergency shelter system, capping the limit at 5,800.
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