Norfolk safety-net site opened this week, will accommodate more than 140 families experiencing homelessness at full capacity

BOSTON - The Healey-Driscoll administration today announced that, as of July 9, 2024, sleeping overnight in Logan Airport will no longer be permitted. This decision comes as a result of the administration’s recent efforts to open a new safety-net site, move more families out of shelter, and share a message at the U.S. southern border that Massachusetts is out of shelter space. 

Families currently sleeping at Logan who are on the Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter waitlist will be offered transfers to the state’s new safety-net system, including in Norfolk, which opened this week and will accommodate up to 140 families at full capacity. Eligible families will continue to be placed in other safety-net and shelter sites as units become available. Staff on site at Logan will work with families to inform them of this new policy and their options, including helping them secure transportation to another location where they have family or another option for a safe place to stay.

“The administration has worked diligently in recent months to increase the number of families leaving shelter into more stable housing. With this progress, the recent opening of a new safety-net site in Norfolk and the new nine-month length of stay policy, we are now in a position to end the practice of families staying overnight in the airport. This is in the best interest of families and travelers and staff at Logan, as the airport is not an appropriate place for people to seek shelter,” said Emergency Assistance Director Scott Rice. “We are going to continue to spread the word that Massachusetts is out of shelter space and that, if families are travelling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or our Emergency Assistance shelters.” 

Earlier this week, Governor Healey sent a team of officials, led by EA Director General Scott Rice, to the U.S. Southern Border to share information with border officials, NGOs and families about how Massachusetts is out of shelter space. The officials met with organizations that assist families at the border, including Catholic Charities and the Interfaith Welcome Coalition, to ensure they had accurate, updated information to share about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts. They also met families, including one family that was considering going to Massachusetts, and shared the same message. The trip resulted in new partnerships with these organizations, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Joint Task Force North, that will be important for sharing information and messaging going forward.

The administration will continue to get the word out through flyers in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole to let families know that, if they are traveling to Massachusetts, they need to be prepared with a plan for housing that does not include Logan Airport or the state’s shelter system.

The administration has recently increased efforts to provide families experiencing homelessness with housing assistance, work authorization applications, job placements, English classes, and reticketing options. As a result of these efforts, the number of families leaving shelter has steadily increased over the past few months, with more than 300 families leaving in May – the highest number in years. These numbers are expected to increase as the administration implements the nine-month length of stay limit for EA shelters, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Healey. Governor Healey also implemented 30-day engagement requirements at safety-net sites.