More no-bid contracts for Mass. emergency shelter system surface

The state’s health and human services agency greenlighted at least four no-bid contracts and an agreement to rent shelter space at a Quincy college for more than $237,000 a month as the Healey administration attempted to respond to an influx of migrants over the past year, according to documents obtained by the Herald. Contracts between … Read more

Monica Tibbits-Nutt wants to ‘move forward’

Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt just wants to “move forward” after remarks she made last month at an advocacy event generated bipartisan backlash and even a rare rebuke from her boss, Gov. Maura Healey. Tibbits-Nutt held onto her job after the speech, though she largely operated under the radar in the days after the comments became … Read more

MassGOP wants investigation into no-bid shelter food contract

The Massachusetts Republican Party called on the State Ethics Commission Friday to launch an investigation into a no-bid contract to provide food at state-run shelters that has since expired but was awarded to a company whose employees donated to Gov. Maura Healey. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Read original article here Denial of responsibility! … Read more

Small group rallies at State House against shelter spending

A group of less than 15 protestors rallied outside the State House Wednesday in opposition to state spending on emergency shelters in Massachusetts that are housing both local residents and migrants from other countries. The small contingent held large signs in front on the steps of the State House reading “close the Healey hotels” and … Read more

Mass. Senate approves up to $840M for state-run shelters

Massachusetts senators voted Thursday to shuttle hundreds of millions of one-time use dollars to a state-run shelter system buckling under the weight of an influx of migrants from other countries and soaring costs that show little sign of slowing down. The spending bill that passed the Senate on a 32-8 vote inches Beacon Hill closer … Read more

Jim Jordan wants answers on Haitian accused of raping migrant

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican who heads up the powerful House Judiciary Committee, launched an inquiry Tuesday into a Haitian charged with allegedly raping a migrant girl at a Massachusetts shelter last week, according to a letter obtained by the Herald. Jordan and U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock, a California Republican, called on the … Read more

Man charged with raping migrant girl had two background checks

A man charged with allegedly raping a 15-year-old migrant girl at a Rockland shelter underwent two sex offender registry checks and entered the United States through a “federal program,” according to Gov. Maura Healey’s office. Cory Alvarez, 26, pleaded not guilty in Hingham District Court to one count of aggravated rape of a child and … Read more

Mass. House limits time migrants, locals can stay in shelters

Legislation limiting migrant and local families’ time in shelter drew fierce debate on Beacon Hill Wednesday, with Republicans arguing it did not address the root problem of migration issues in Massachusetts and Democrats pitching it as a necessity to keep shelter services sustainable. The proposal, which cleared the House on a 121-33 vote, caps migrant … Read more

Migrants may be eligible for $30,000 housing assistance boost

Homeless families already in emergency shelters, including migrants from other countries, may be eligible for a state-run program that provides up to $30,000 over two years to find stable housing. The program, HomeBASE, has long served homeless families with children or pregnant women living in the emergency shelter system, which provides temporary housing under state’s … Read more

MassGOP paints bleak picture of Mass. in rebuttal to Healey

Massachusetts Republicans painted a bleak picture Wednesday night of a state spending billions on shelters, tax revenues in decline, residents fleeing for other parts of the country, and a lackluster education system for students. Sen. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, offered the stark and dark portrait of Massachusetts in response to Gov. Maura Healey’s State … Read more