Massachusetts has skilled a spike within the variety of migrants arriving from different nations over the previous 12 months, a state of affairs that has strained state assets and is ready to value taxpayers over $1 billion throughout every of the following a number of fiscal years.
The households who’ve arrived via the federal immigration system, both via sponsorship or humanitarian parole packages, are assessed for federal eligibility for a spread of advantages, together with meals stamps, supplemental diet, money help, and assist for aged or disabled kids.
Undocumented immigrants who’ve illegally entered the nation will not be eligible for state advantages just like the state-run shelter system or state-backed help packages.
Each household that has legally arrived in america should undergo an utility course of and there are numerous eligibility necessities, together with revenue ranges, a spokesperson for the Govt Workplace of Health and Human Companies advised the Herald in an announcement.
“Families in (emergency assistance shelter) are also connected with work authorization services so they can transition to jobs and out of the shelter system as soon as possible,” the spokesperson mentioned.
Jeff Thielman, president and CEO of the Worldwide Institute of New England, a resettlement company that largely works with Haitians, mentioned his group believes that if the state invests “some support” into arriving refugees and immigrants, then they are going to extra rapidly transfer off advantages.
“The folks that we see come in here, they are eager and hungry to work, and so as soon as they get a little bit of assistance, they’re ready to go. They’re in the workforce, and they want to work. They have come here to work and contribute,” he mentioned.
Simply over 3,600 out of the 7,500 households within the state-run shelters entered as migrants, refugees, or asylum seekers as of Oct. 3, in keeping with the Healey administration.
State finances writers reported spending $858 million on the state-run shelter system in fiscal 12 months 2024 and prices in fiscal 12 months 2025 are anticipated to exceed $1 billion.
