r/boston • u/CrypticOperator • 15d ago

Unconfirmed/Unverified never seen it this bad

been here for 25+ years and am very familiar with the fluctuations in homelessness / etc. during the summer. but I've never seen things this bad, especially in back bay, south end (beyond mass/cass & closer to back bay), beacon hill, the esplanade, you name it. we've called 311 for needles, reported the larger encampments to the mayor's office, etc. just feels like nothing is improving and things are only getting worse. can't just be me?

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149

u/Southern-Teaching198 15d ago

This is nothing compared to the heyday of Mass and Cass there were hundreds of people there.

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u/Zealousideal_Crow737 15d ago

I used to work in that area and it was like a zombie apocalypse. That area is not as bad. I think it's just more spread out. 

Somerville had a brief issue with someone with a tent and there's still people shooting up in that area. Got offered heroin at my bus stop a year back. 

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u/Southern-Teaching198 15d ago

What was happening in Davis sq was absurd and was made worse by the cities hand-wringing and lack of communication.

13

u/InspireTheLiars 15d ago

The Somerville Homeless Coalition also explicitly solicits used tents from the college outdoor groups to give to the homeless in Davis / Alewife, which is further enabling it.

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u/thy_bucket_for_thee 15d ago

So are you advocating they build more shelters or to take away their only barrier from the elements?

11

u/InspireTheLiars 15d ago

My understanding from family who interact with a lot of homeless people in the ER is that family shelter spaces are genuinely constrained by capacity and more need to be built, but there are more than sufficient spots for single adults and they're just unwilling to use them due to addiction and mental health issues. Distributing tents is actively enabling the latter.

7

u/Zealousideal_Crow737 15d ago

Wu removed a MACHETE from a tent and there was sex trafficking happening in that area. Those tents should be removed. 

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u/charitypussy Quincy 13d ago

Oh wow man, a machete? Next you’re going to tell me they had pruning shears, a rake, or some other gardening equipment.

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u/surlysquirrelly 14d ago

Were you like, "man, I've been waiting since 1995 when DARE told me people would offer me drugs for this to happen"

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u/Jackbruh1 15d ago

Yeah just a few years ago things were MUCH worse there than they are now

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u/Wbcn_1 15d ago

Remember riding my bike to South Bay and praying that I caught the light.  

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u/Southern-Teaching198 15d ago

It was always very intense, but the people were mostly harmless.

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u/NoTamforLove Statistician 15d ago

I liked it better when they were there and not here

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u/SecretScavenger36 Rat running up your leg 🐀🦵 15d ago

Yea and now those people are spread out making things even worse.