As a new Massachusetts policy takes effect today, migrant families who have been sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport will be relocated to new shelters. Due to the state running out of shelter space, some eligible families on a waiting list will be transferred to a former prison in Norfolk, Massachusetts, which has been converted into an emergency shelter.
State officials have expressed that Logan Airport was never deemed an appropriate place for overnight stays. The decision to repurpose the former Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk into a shelter for up to 140 families has sparked controversy, leading to protests and concerns from local residents.
For months, Massachusetts has been struggling to accommodate the increasing number of migrants arriving in the state. With the emergency shelter system reaching full capacity last year, alternative solutions have been sought, including urging residents to consider housing migrants in their homes.
Footage showed migrant families lining up sleeping bags and blankets in the airport terminal, with hundreds of families at one point seeking shelter there. State authorities, along with police and social workers, have now begun escorting families to alternative welcome centers in Allston and Quincy.
State Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice emphasized that the move is in the best interest of families, travelers, and airport staff, stressing the unsuitability of airports and emergency shelters for long-term stays. The state continues to raise awareness that Massachusetts is facing a shortage of shelter space, urging incoming families to have housing plans in place that do not involve Logan Airport or emergency shelters.
