News

Number of Mass. homeless families in hotels jumps

BOSTON (AP) - Despite promises by state officials to cut the number of homeless families being put up in hotels, the number of has shot up to near-record levels on pace to cost taxpayers nearly $1 million a week.

The state was putting up 1,710 families in motels around the state at $82 per family - or $140,220 per day - as of Thursday.

The number of homeless families in hotels and motels reached a peak of about 1,800 in December. That was down by 30 percent by March, three months after state officials promised to phase out the program they said was not cost efficient.

The number has since jumped again.

Aaron Gornstein, undersecretary of Housing and Community Development, tells the Boston Herald this month's jump was more than officials expected.