Homeless families to move out of Atlantic Motel

The Atlantic Motel on Depot Street will no longer serve as a shelter for homeless families, the Select Board announced on Tuesday, Dec. 12. 

These families came to the Atlantic Motel in September as part of the state's response to an increased burden on its emergency family shelter system. 

Massachusetts has a "right to shelter" law requiring it to house eligible families with children. Due in part to an influx of migrants, the state began to run out of room for these families earlier in the year, leading it to tap motels across the state for spare capacity. 

The state signed a rental agreement for 24 rooms at the Atlantic Motel extending through the end of the year, an agreement that could be extended, Select Board member Jared Chadwick said in September. 

However, it appears that agreement did not get extended. 

Select Board Chair Judith Whiteside announced on Tuesday, Dec. 12 the individuals in the Atlantic Motel will be moved on Dec. 20. 

According to the Select Board, the people will be moved out of Wareham, and the Atlantic Motel will no longer be a site for housing immigrants or other homeless individuals. 

"I know they're trying to consolidate sites, [and] especially trying to get services in the sites," said Town Administrator Derek Sullivan. Sullivan thanked the volunteers in the town for the "help and kindness" they showed toward the families, and said he hoped the move would be a positive one.