That would be a backdoor to getting reseidency permit for the relatively well-off so I doubt that's accurate, or at the very least there a considerable strings attached.

Not really. So long as the accommodation meets Swiss standards and she can show she can financially support him it shouldn't be a problem, assuming she's also an EU national.

https://www.ch.ch/en/family-reunification-eu-efta/

Still, the question remains would Basel AWA agree to pay unemployment and if so what percentage.