BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Local and state officials today held an event to open the Melnea Cass Community Center in Roxbury as an overflow shelter site for migrants.
While angry protesters demonstrated outside the center, Governor Healey said inside "We're here today because we really don't have a choice."
Massachusetts has reached its limit of 7,500 families in the emergency shelter system.
Thousands more people are on a waiting list.
The community center, which has room for 400 people, was opened temporarily as an emergency overflow shelter site after dozens of families have been sleeping on the floor of Terminal E at Logan Airport.
Healey said her administration is making sure all of the center's programs and sports teams have a place to play and don't get displaced.
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.