By Joe Stewart

In May, Governor Maura Healey announced that all of the hotel-based emergency shelters across Massachusetts would close this summer.  Additionally, the Norfolk Rapid Shelter located at the former Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk would close as well, likely by July 31. 

In an interview, Senator Becca Rausch highlighted the collaborative efforts among stakeholders: members of the Healey administration, Representative Marcus Vaughn and his team, government leaders from Norfolk and Wrentham, school leaders from the King Philip Regional School District and the Norfolk School District, and various community groups including Norfolk Strong.  Rausch noted that early on in the crisis the lines of communication were not well established and that it took some time to build trust among the stakeholders.

Despite initial challenges, Rausch credited the Commonwealth with timely financial support to both school districts to mitigate the abrupt increases in enrollment.  Rausch emphasized that creating transparent, trusted lines of communication was key in reducing the impact on Norfolk and surrounding communities. 

Justin Casanova-Davis, Norfolk’s former Town Administrator, likewise highlighted the open lines of communication, stating that he and members of the School Committee, Select Board, Police and Fire Departments, among others, participated in weekly meetings through December.  Casanova-Davis said the greatest impact was felt at the Norfolk Public Schools where additional classrooms were created through renovation, the costs of which were offset by approximately $250,000 provided by the Commonwealth. He noted that teachers, administrators, and the School Committee managed the new students effectively and that there were minimal impacts to other departments such as Fire and Police. 

According to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), a core goal of the emergency shelter system has been to quickly help families find stable housing. Families who stayed in the shelter were required to work with case managers to secure their own leases on the private housing market. 

Danielle Ferrier, CEO of Heading Home, the contractor that operated the shelter, shared that 306 families and 973 people have been supported at the shelter since it opened in June, 2024.  Heading Home provided employment training, education and housing placement assistance.  Families have been moved into alternative housing across the entire Commonwealth, as far out as the Berkshires, where they have been able to secure jobs and affordable housing.

The EOHLC shared that almost 90% of families seeking shelter now are long-time Massachusetts families.  Since the start of 2025, double the number of families have exited shelter (approximately 2,500) than have entered shelter (approximately 1,100).

In an interview with the Franklin Observer, State Rep. Marcus Vaughn said he’s called on the state to develop a clear plan for the use of the Bay State property once it’s empty. He requested the Executive Office of Administration and Finance initiate a working group to evaluate possible uses, and emphasized Norfolk town officials should be involved in any discussions.