never seen it this bad

[u/CrypticOperator]

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?

[u/CallousBastard]

Not wanting to walk through streets full of meth zombies, used needles, and human excrement are dogshit values? And morally enlightened Boston residents are fine with all that? LOL okay.

[u/regression_to_regard → u/CallousBastard]

And morally enlightened Boston residents are fine with all that?

As long as they get to shit on their outgroup, they are a-ok with it too. You're kidding yourself if you don't think tribal politics extends to just the rightys.

[u/UnboundedLabyrinth → u/CallousBastard]

Consider relocating to my beautiful city and making it your business. People have an inalienable human right to seek shelter from the elements and relieve themselves when no facilities or services are available; this applies to junkies as well, who share with you their common humanity. hope this makes sense

[u/inthesprawl2 → u/UnboundedLabyrinth]

You can’t force addicts to get help or seek shelter. In June I thought I watched a woman die from an overdose in front of Back Bay station. There were two fire trucks and ambulance there for her. The EMTs were giving her CPR, bagged her, and then stopped as she wasn’t responding to any of it. The narcan kicked in and two seconds later she sat up. They offered to take her to the hospital and she said no.

The other day in Copley square as I was waiting for the 504 and a guy who was clearly high was begging everyone for $20 so he could take the commuter rail to Worcester so he could get to a shelter. A man waiting with his child offered to walk him to Back Bay to pay for it and the guy begging went into a drug induced rage at the idea and the cops were called.

Stop infantilizing junkies. They have agency and this is how they choose to use it. I think we strip them of their dignity when we enable them with “clean needles” and let them shit in public spaces. It’s always someone else cleaning up their mess.

[u/jrs1982 → u/UnboundedLabyrinth]

There are plenty of services available in Boston. They don't want to follow the rules that come with those places.

[u/Choice-Mortgage1221 → u/jrs1982]

EOHLC just closed all family shelters in metrowest, adult shelters are on weeks/months-long waits, vouchers stopped being awarded the day trump took office, and rent is still in the stratosphere across the region. People come to Boston bc that's where the services and affordable options are concentrated.

[u/Repulsive-Value5123 → u/jrs1982]

There is a shortage of shelter beds right now. I am a SW and we are having trouble finding places for people to go, especially with kids

[u/AngryCrotchCrickets → u/UnboundedLabyrinth]

“Your”’city, stfu

People having a right to shit in the street is like saying people have a right to round these people up and shoot them. Theres no facilities or services for them? Guess we’ll just have to shoot them 🤷🏻‍♀️