TAUNTON, Mass. — Officials say a hotel currently being used as an emergency assistance family shelter will close come summertime.
Senator Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) says the Taunton Clarion Hotel will close as a shelter by June 30, 2025, as that state plans to phase out the use of hotels as emergency shelters.
“Massachusetts cannot continue to sustain an overwhelmed emergency shelter system,” said Dooner. “I am committed to continuing working with my colleagues to enact real reforms that prioritize long-term housing solutions while ensuring our local communities are not unfairly burdened.”
Officials say NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, a nonprofit that provides housing resources for struggling families, will continue to secure stable housing for those living at the Taunton Clarion Hotel before the June deadline.
Families who are eligible for emergency assistance but have not yet transitioned into permanent housing will be relocated by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to other shelter sites.
The closure comes after a suspected undocumented immigrant was caught with a rifle and a huge drug stash in early January, prompting an inspection of all state shelters.
“It’s outrageous that this individual took advantage of our shelter system to engage in criminal activity,” Governor Maura Healey said at the time. “I’ve ordered an inspection of all shelter units, beginning with the Revere site, and a full review of our intake processes to determine any additional steps that we can take to prevent criminal activity in shelters.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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