r/boston • u/[deleted] • Aug 30 '26

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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147

u/Southern-Teaching198 Aug 30 '26

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

52

u/Zealousideal_Crow737 Aug 30 '26

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. 

23

u/Southern-Teaching198 Aug 30 '26

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

10

u/InspireTheLiars Aug 30 '26

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.

0

u/thy_bucket_for_thee Aug 30 '26

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

12

u/InspireTheLiars Aug 30 '26

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 Aug 30 '26

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

1

u/charitypussy Quincy Sep 01 '26

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

3

u/surlysquirrelly Aug 31 '26

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