Massachusetts Lawmakers Fail to Agree on Supplementary Budget, Leaving Emergency Shelter System in Limbo

Disagreement over a $250 million appropriation for the state's emergency shelter system stalls the budget, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families and state employees.

Massachusetts lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a Supplementary Budget, leaving the state's emergency shelter system and other crucial spending items in limbo.
The major point of contention was a $250 million appropriation for the state's emergency shelter system, with the House insisting that $50 million be used to set up a larger overflow shelter for families waitlisted for temporary shelter space.
The Senate wanted to preserve the governor's flexibility on how the $250 million was used and required only that the administration report to the Legislature every other week on how the money was being allocated and how many families were being accommodated.
If the bill doesn't pass before Jan. 2, 2024, the process will have to start all over again, raising concerns about how far existing funds for the shelter system will go.
The delay in reaching a deal transfers notable leverage to the Legislature’s small Republican caucus, whose members all voted against the package.