Senator Dooner: Date set for Taunton Clarion Hotel to close as emergency shelter

Boston, MA – February 3, 2025 – Today, Senator Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) received news that the Taunton Clarion Hotel is expected to close as an Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter by June 30, 2025. The planned closure represents a significant step in phasing out the use of hotels as emergency shelters and addressing long-term housing solutions across Massachusetts.

“I want to thank Mayor Shaunna O’Connell, the Taunton Police and Fire Departments, our first responders and all our local partners for their tireless efforts in managing this situation,” said Dooner. “Their hard work has ensured the safety and well-being of all those involved.”

With the planned closure, service provider NeighborWorks Housing Solutions will continue working with families to secure stable housing before the deadline. Families who remain eligible for EA 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.

“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.”

Senator Dooner emphasized that while this closure is a step in the right direction, more work needs to be done to reform the state’s shelter system. She reaffirmed her commitment to amending Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law to ensure a more effective and sustainable approach to emergency housing.