A community center in one of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods will soon reopen after serving as a temporary shelter for undocumented immigrants, officials said. fox news digital report.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s (D) office told news outlets that the Melnea Cass Recreation Center in Roxbury will reopen to the public on June 22.
Earlier this year, the government announced: Temporarily closed The state-owned community center was established to create additional shelter space for homeless longtime Massachusetts residents and newly arrived undocumented immigrants. The temporary “safety net” shelter housed about 100 families or 400 people on the state’s waiting list.
“It’s very important to the community.”
The decision to close recreational facilities angered Roxbury area residents, some of whom went out to protest. In February, residents picketed outside the center with signs saying things like “Our city, our space,” “Boston is full,” and “Our children are coming last. Why?” He held up a placard.
WHDH Another resident reportedly joined the protest holding a sign that read, “Why Roxbury? Try Wellesley!,” referring to Boston’s wealthy neighborhoods.
Sean Nelson, a resident who had previously protested outside the facility, told WHDH, “They’re talking about how we need to get these kids off the streets, how we need to get them into programs. Because children are our future. …Well, this is how we deal with the future, by pushing it out of its place.”
“We just have to do what we have to do,” Mr Healy said at the time, responding to community outrage, noting the situation was “just born out of necessity”.
Massachusetts is the only state in the country with a right-to-refuge law. In November, the state’s emergency shelter system reached its maximum capacity of 7,500 households.
A spokesperson for Healey’s office told Fox News Digital that all homeless families and undocumented immigrants were removed from the recreation center as the state prepares to reopen the center for public use. Ta. A spokesperson said those who previously lived in the community center have been relocated to more permanent housing or other safety net locations.
said Norm Stenbridge, a former Roxbury resident and current co-chair of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee. WGBH He said the closure of the recreation centre has had an impact on local residents.
“It’s very important for young people, it’s very important for older people, it’s very important for the community,” he told the news outlet. “There are activities for each age group. They look forward to a place where they can practice those activities.”
The building will undergo some construction work before reopening in the summer upgradeincluding new flooring, equipment, tree planting, roof repairs, and solar panel installation.
The state has also opened several other safety net sites to address the number of undocumented immigrants still on waiting lists, and Healey’s office recently announced plans to turn the National Guard armory in Lexington into a temporary shelter, even though the facility will remain in continuous use. blaze news Previously reported. The state estimates the building could provide housing for 55 of her families.
A WBZ report published in February found that the state spent approx. $64 per day This is to feed each illegal immigrant.
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