Ongoing Homelessness and Drug Use Crisis in Boston’s Mass and Cass

News Summary

Boston continues to grapple with homelessness and drug use, particularly in the Mass and Cass area. Despite efforts by the city to manage the situation, residents report increased visible substance use and ongoing public safety concerns. Mayor Michelle Wu is under scrutiny as she strives to address these complex issues amid critiques from her opponent, Josh Kraft, who advocates for stronger enforcement and recovery initiatives. As drug-related activities migrate to other neighborhoods, calls for effective intervention and community safety grow louder.

Boston is facing ongoing challenges related to homelessness and open drug use, particularly in the area known as Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, or Mass and Cass. Despite previous efforts by the city to address these issues, residents continue to report a rise in visible substance use and related problems in surrounding neighborhoods.

Two years ago, city officials cleared a large tent encampment in Mass and Cass that was notoriously associated with rampant drug use and illegal activities such as drug dealing and sex trafficking. Although the encampment was dismantled, the public drug activity has persisted, with homeless individuals gravitating towards the area. Residents in the South End, in particular, have noted an uptick in drug dealing, discarded needles, and other disturbances since the former encampment’s removal.

Mayor Michelle Wu has expressed her concerns regarding public safety and the well-being of children who may encounter drug use in public places. In light of this ongoing crisis, Wu’s opponent in the upcoming election, philanthropist Josh Kraft, has criticized the administration’s handling of the homelessness and drug use crisis, asserting that more effective measures are necessary.

Both Wu and Kraft acknowledge the complexity of the opioid epidemic and the challenge of addressing homelessness at the local level. Wu’s strategy, which aims to tackle the situation holistically, plans to leverage all city government resources in collaboration with state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Her recent actions include dismantling the Atkinson Street tent encampment in November 2023, a move intended to facilitate access to housing and recovery services for affected individuals.

Following the removal of the Atkinson Street encampment, there was a notable decrease in violent crime rates in the vicinity, with no reported homicides. Nonetheless, the city is adapting its approach to respond to the outdoor drug use issues that have now spread to other neighborhoods like Roxbury, Dorchester, and South Boston.

The Boston Coordinated Response Team, consisting of city agencies and police, has been tasked with enforcing laws against outdoor encampments while also working to connect individuals with addiction recovery services. To further this effort, a budget of $200,000 has been allocated to enhance the operations of this Coordinated Response Team. Increased police presence around Mass and Cass aims to enforce drug-related laws while providing support to those facing mental health and substance use disorders.

Kraft’s proposed strategy includes enhancing police enforcement of laws against public drug use, trespassing, and tent camping. He suggests the establishment of specialty courts for nonviolent drug offenses and the revival of the Community Syringe Redemption Program, which incentivized the return of used needles for monetary compensation. Funding for this program, however, ended last year, contributing to ongoing public health challenges.

The Boston Public Health Commission has been proactive in managing the situation, operating a Mobile Sharps Team to clean up used needles across the city. Recently, a 4-year-old child in South Boston had to begin a lengthy HIV prevention regimen after stepping on a discarded needle, leading to heightened community demands for improved cleanup initiatives.

Kraft also advocates for the creation of a dedicated recovery campus, which would offer housing and support services for individuals tackling addiction, filling the gap left by the closure of the Long Island facility in Boston Harbor over a decade ago. His plans include a substantial increase in shelter beds to accommodate every person currently living on the streets, an initiative that would require collaboration with state-level entities.

Some community leaders have suggested the deployment of National Guard troops to assist with the crisis, a proposition Wu has dismissed in favor of civilian-led solutions. Public health officials and law enforcement have acknowledged that clearing the encampments has merely resulted in drug-related activities migrating to neighboring areas, prompting widespread frustration among local residents over the lack of effective enforcement strategies.

As the opioid crisis continues to unfold, data reveals that there has been an increase in overdose cases in places like Nubian Square, indicating an urgent need for revitalized intervention and support services. City officials recognize that the ongoing homeless crisis is inextricably linked to the wider issues of drug use and public safety, with calls for a re-evaluation of Boston’s response strategies growing louder.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Massachusetts Closes Hotel Shelters for Families in Need
Journalists Attacked While Covering Drug Market in Boston
Boston Faces Serious Challenges from Opioid Crisis
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Michelle Wu Maintains Strong Lead in Boston Mayoral Race
Greater Boston Housing Market Surpasses $1 Million Median Price
Massachusetts Legislature Targets Rental Market with New Reforms
Greater Boston’s Housing Market Surpasses $1 Million Median Price
Greater Boston’s Median Home Price Exceeds $1 Million
Boston Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Housing Affordability Strategies

Additional Resources

• MassLive: Boston’s Homelessness and Drug Use Plans
• Boston Herald: Wu’s Mass and Cass Plan Failure
• CBS News: Boston Common Revitalization
• Wikipedia: Homelessness in the United States
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Drug Abuse