Temporary Housing Solution
The Melnea Cass Center, a community center in Boston, was converted into a migrant shelter on Jan. 31. Since then, it has quickly reached near-capacity as migrants are transported from other temporary housing situations across the state.
Concerns from the Community
Mayor Michelle Wu, a Democrat, acknowledges that this situation is temporary. She emphasizes the importance of the pool for the community, where multi-generational activities take place. The community center is currently providing shelter for 75 migrant children, who have been registered with the Boston Public Schools. These students have been placed in special “cohorts” to receive extra dedicated resources.
However, the decision to use the Melnea Cass Center as a shelter has faced sharp criticism from the Roxbury community. City Council member Tania Fernandes Anderson, representing the area, expresses the concerns of many residents who feel displaced by the governor’s decision.
Born Out of Necessity
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, defends the decision, stating that it was “just born out of necessity.” Other facilities in the state that have served as housing shelters have become overwhelmed. Massachusetts, as a right-to-shelter state, is legally obligated to provide shelter for homeless families.
Governor Charlie Baker’s office has yet to respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
