Local legislator in favor of phasing out homeless hotel program - CBS 3 Springfield - WSHM
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West Springfield's State Sen. Jim Welch is in favor of ending a state program that puts homeless families in hotels and motels.
In fiscal year 2012, it cost Massachusetts taxpayers $45 million to fund the program.
The Commonwealth places families in the hotels and motels when space at the 2,000 emergency shelter rooms in the state system run out.
Gov. Deval Patrick would like to find a more permanent solution for the families.
Welch told CBS 3 that he agrees and wants the program done by 2014.
"I think the governor is making the right step by putting a timeline in place to say that we're going to end this entire process, we're going to end this policy and make sure that we don't have placing families in hotels as an option," Welch said.
There were 1700 families in hotels in December.
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