Massachusetts congresswoman leads $3 billion request for FEMA's Shelter and Services Program

BOSTON —A Massachusetts congresswoman is leading an effort to get the federal government to allocate more money to address the migrant shelter crisis in the state and across the country.

U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan and Diana DeGette, of Colorado, led a group of 20 House members who requested $3 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Shelter and Services Program, which provides funding to states and municipalities to support migrant arrivals.

The request was made in a letter sent Monday to U.S. Rep. David Joyce, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, who are working to finalize Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations.

Four other members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation signed the letter: U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.

“Local communities across the country have stepped up to provide humanitarian support to those in need. In Woburn, Massachusetts local community leaders and school teachers worked to clothe and feed migrants. In Denver, one neighborhood Facebook mom’s group has grown to multiple parts of the city, helping migrant families with everything from clothing and food to transportation to various meetings and appointments. In Chicago volunteers ensured that over 100 migrants were rehoused before their shelter closed down,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “However, without additional federal resources these communities and so many others can only do so much. There is a resounding need from cities and towns across the country for increased federal support to provide migrants with short term humanitarian services."

The letter pointed to the current immigration backlog, which can force some migrants to wait up to six years for an initial hearing, according to the lawmakers. The letter also states the 150-day work moratorium has forced state and local governments to provide shelter and support services that can cost tens of millions of dollars per month.

“Multiple bipartisan groups of lawmakers have worked toward immigration compromises, including the recently unveiled national security supplemental negotiated by Senate Democrats and Republicans,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, the bipartisan Senate deal has already been discarded and House Republican leadership has not expressed intent to bring bipartisan immigration reform to the floor before the election. Congressional gridlock on immigration reform has exacerbated the need for SSP dollars to support affected cities and towns.”

In December 2023, Trahan led members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation in writing a letter to FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security expressing concerns about the lack of federal funding going to non-border states, like Massachusetts, that are experiencing a significant influx of migrants and requesting additional federal support for the state's shelter and service programs.