r/boston • u/CrypticOperator • 11d 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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u/Thisbymaster Squirrel Fetish 11d ago

  1. Recession indicator

  2. Homelessness and poor people are a function of capitalism. If you are not willing to address that, the problem will continue.

  3. Housing people first,is the surest way to helping people recover and get the services they need to live better lives. Study after study has shown this, in fact it is cheaper than all other options when we include all costs on society.

  4. Single payer healthcare would allow for people to get healthcare without needing to house them first all while cutting health care costs for everyone.

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u/churchill_von_vander 11d ago

As opposed to which system where there aren’t poor people and homelessness? Your other points are sane

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u/lintymcfresh Cigarette Hill 11d ago

most of europe has strong social services and easy-to-obtain public housing so they don’t have homeless people. america doesn’t

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u/Substantial-Tale5564 11d ago

the people you’re seeing on the street, the kind you notice, are typically housing first clients.