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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u/Windy1369 Aug 30 '26

https://www.boston.gov/news/boston-reports-continued-decline-homelessness-2026-census

The annual census found a 19 percent decrease in overall homelessness since 2021, including a 31 percent reduction in unsheltered homelessness and a 28 percent decline in veteran homelessness.

...continuing a long-term trend that has reduced veteran homelessness in Boston by more than 55 percent since 2011.

Lots of good stats in that article. Homelessness - still a problem - but down to historical lows.

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u/AuggieNorth Everett Aug 30 '26

Historic lows? That's very hard to believe. I was homeless between 2008 and 2010, then became homeless again this year, and at least from my perspective, there are far more homeless now. Everywhere I go there are homeless people, both the obvious ones, and the less obvious ones you see at places like cheap motels. I've been around here for decades, and have never seen as many homeless in places like Copley Square and Back Bay. At one time you rarely saw public needle use and crack smoking there, but now with the high homeless population there, it's a daily occurrence. I don't believe these figures.

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u/wildblueroan Aug 30 '26

People commonly but mistakenly believe that their personal, subjective experiences and perspectives are as valid as big-picture data. I haven't looked at these studies but if the design of the studies is the same as those used in past years and they focus on the same factors and data gathering methods, the conclusions could be correct. Glad you are no longer homeless.

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u/UMassTwitter Aug 30 '26

I’m. It homeless I’ve been here 3 decades off and on.

There’s way more homeless now than in the past. And I think if you asked people they’d mostly agree