Norfolk correctional facility to house migrant overflow shelter
NORFOLK, Mass. (WLNE) — State Rep. Marcus Vaughn said in a letter to residents that Bay State Correctional Facility in Norfolk would be turned into an overflow shelter for undocumented immigrants.
Vaughn said that the decision was made to house the 450 individuals in the correctional facility due to concerns about families being housed at Logan Airport.
“This development will strain our school systems in Norfolk and at King Philip Middle and High School and will likely impact public safety infrastructure,” Vaughn said.
The 150 families are expected to move into the facility in mid-June and there is no timeline for how long they will be there.
“My office commits to transparency and will furnish further updates as additional information is provided by the Governor and her team regarding the opening of a new Emergency Shelter site in Norfolk,” Vaughn said.
The Governor’s Office shared the following statement from Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice:
“The administration has identified a state-owned building in Norfolk to use as a temporary safety-net site for families experiencing homelessness. The Bay State Correctional Center, a former minimum-security dorm-like facility, was decommissioned in 2015 and remains in good condition. The facility can accommodate approximately 140 families in dorm rooms with bathrooms and showers on each floor. Additionally, the facility has a cafeteria, a gymnasium, a large common room, and offices that will be utilized for case management and administrative activities. The site will be set up with play areas for children, as well as classroom spaces for adults to engage in activities that support pathways to stability such as ESOL classes, job training courses, and housing search workshops.”
The full letter can be read below:
The letter sent by Rep. Marcus Vaughn alerting Norfolk residents that the town would house a migrant shelter. (Commonwealth of Massachusetts)
