State to Convert Prison Into Shelter for Illegal Aliens
Massachusetts plans to convert a shuttered prison into an emergency “safety-net” site for illegal aliens, Democrat Governor Maura Healey’s office confirmed to WCVB on Saturday.
The Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk was decommissioned in 2015 but will soon serve as temporary housing for approximately 140 local homeless and illegal immigrant families residing in Massachusetts, the only state with a right-to-shelter law.
The state’s emergency shelter system reached capacity at 7,500 families in November.
According to Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice, the facility is still “in good condition,” WCVB reported. Previously a minimum-security prison, the building reportedly features dorm-like rooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, a common room, and offices. Residents will have access to showers and bathrooms on each floor.
Rice told the news outlet that the state also plans to create a play area for children and classroom spaces for adults. The facility will host English for Speakers of Other Languages courses, job training, and housing search workshops, he added. Razor wire on the fence that lines the property will be removed, and the facility’s gates will remain open. (Read more from “State to Convert Prison Into Shelter for Illegal Aliens” HERE)
