Massachusetts Faces Migrant Crisis with New Shelter Policy
Controversial Use of Former Prison as Shelter
Massachusetts has taken a significant step by prohibiting overnight stays for migrants at Boston's Logan Airport, where up to 300 people, including entire families, had been sleeping for months. With the state's emergency shelter system overwhelmed, Governor Maura Healey announced the relocation of these migrants to various welcome centers and the newly renovated Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk, a former low-security prison.
The state’s emergency shelter system reached its capacity with 7,500 families last year, prompting Gov. Healey to declare a state of emergency. Despite the controversy, the $800,000 renovation of the Bay State Correctional Center aims to provide temporary housing for up to 140 families or 450 people. The facility offers showers, bathrooms, a cafeteria, a gym, and offices for case management and administration. There are also recreational spaces for minors and classrooms for adults to learn English and receive job training.
The move has sparked protests among Norfolk residents, who worry about the impact on local schools, medical services, and public safety. Demonstrators with signs reading 'No children in prisons' and 'Norfolk prison shelter is not safe for anyone!' have voiced their concerns. A community meeting saw several dozen residents express their fears about the influx of migrants into their small community of 11,500 people.
State officials have increased efforts to assist migrants with housing, work authorization applications, job placement, and English classes. However, faced with the ongoing influx, Massachusetts has had to inform new arrivals at the southern border that the state has run out of shelter space. The Healey Administration has distributed pamphlets in multiple languages to communicate this message.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has supported the governor's decision, calling for federal assistance to address the migrant crisis. 'This is a federal challenge that has been shifted to cities and states that are considered more welcoming than others, so it's been a real struggle,' Wu stated.
- The Massachusetts Government has ensured that the Bay State Correctional Facility provides necessary amenities for migrants, including showers, bathrooms, a cafeteria, a gym, and offices for case management and administration. The facility also offers recreational spaces for minors and classrooms for adults to learn English and receive job training. The center is managed by external contractors who are present 24/7, and transportation is provided for migrants to leave and return to the facility.
- In response to the influx of migrants, Massachusetts officials traveled to the southern border to inform border agents, NGOs, and migrants that the state has no more shelter space. Pamphlets in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole were distributed to communicate this message. The administration has also increased efforts to assist migrants with housing, work authorization applications, job placement, and English classes.
