A few weeks back, we reported that Fort Point neighbors were informed that migrants could soon move into their neighborhood.  Where are they moving to, you ask? A vacant area of an office building on Farnsworth Street – not far from the Children’s Museum.

After an outcry from the neighborhood, a community meeting was organized by local elected officials, and it was held on Tuesday night on West First Street.  According to the Boston Globe, it was revealed at the meeting that the migrant shelter will be opening next week regardless of pushback from the community.

Earlier this week,  Governor Maura Healey publicly confirmed for the first time that the building at 24 Farnsworth St. would be opened as an overflow shelter.  The building is owned by the Unitarian Universalist Association and serves as the church’s headquarters. The United Way will operate the shelter for homeless families who are on a waiting list for the state’s emergency shelter system.

Retired Lieutenant General and MA Emergency Assistance Director L. Scott Rice informed those in attendance at the meeting that “this was going to happen.” He also added that the building was three-quarters set up and could open late next week.

According to the article, the building has six bathrooms but no showers. Shelter residents, roughly 80 people from Haiti, will be transported in vans to and from nearby YMCAs to shower.

Neighbors expressed their frustration and lack of transparency regarding this decision. You can read the details here. 

Rice stated during the meeting that an informational Zoom session will be coming up on Friday.

You can register here!