Massachusetts officials have announced a ban on migrants sleeping at Boston’s Logan International Airport starting from July 9. Over 100 migrants have been using the airport as a makeshift shelter, but they will now be offered free taxpayer-funded accommodation at a refurbished former minimum-security dorm-like facility in Norfolk. This facility has the capacity to accommodate around 140 migrants and homeless families, or roughly 450 people. The state is also offering transfers to other new “safety-net” sites for the migrants to stay in. The move to end the practice of migrants staying at the airport comes after efforts to increase stable housing for families and reduce reliance on shelters.
Residents of Norfolk, which has a population of about 11,500, were initially upset about the migrant shelter being established in their town. However, the Healey administration has assured that the facility will cater to migrants and assist them with housing assistance, work authorization applications, job placements, and English classes. The administration has also implemented a nine-month length of stay limit for emergency shelters and 30-day engagement requirements for migrants to take action towards obtaining work permits, jobs, and housing. As a result of these efforts, over 300 families have left the facilities since May. The state delegation sent to the border has informed officials, NGOs, and migrants that Massachusetts is out of shelter space and they will have to plan for housing elsewhere.
The Healey administration is making efforts to communicate with new migrants in English, Spanish, and Haitian-Creole that they will not be accommodated at Logan Airport or in the state’s shelter system. The Bay State previously declared a state of emergency over the surge of migrants into the state and has faced challenges in managing the crisis. The 1983 sanctuary city law that obliges the state to cater to migrants was initially passed to address homeless families and pregnant women but critics argue that it does not apply to non-U.S. citizens. The Norfolk facility provides amenities such as showers, bathrooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, play areas for children, and classroom spaces for adults. Families are also provided with transportation and are allowed to exit and return freely.
The Norfolk facility, located on the grounds of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, is staffed 24/7 by a contracted service provider and families are supported with case management and administrative activities. The removal of razor wire on the fence surrounding the facility and keeping the gates open allows families to move freely on and off-site. The state is focused on transitioning migrants from emergency shelters to more stable housing arrangements, and the administration hopes to see more families leaving the facilities in the coming months. While the exact cost of the operation is unclear, the state is working to address the needs of migrants and ensure they have access to necessary support services as they transition to new living arrangements in Massachusetts.
