Mayor Wu: Boston to take major step to address problems along Mass and Cass

BOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says the city is planning to take a major step to address the growing safety problems along Mass Ave and Melnea Cass Boulevard. A portion of the plan is to relocate the homeless to a different part of the city.

In the parking lot at Shattuck Hospital, the state set up tiny homes where some of the homeless have been moved to. Now, the mayor is working with Boston Medical Center to use the beds inside the facility.

Both the Shattuck Hospital redevelopment project and the tiny homes are state initiatives. The city is an important partner in this work, but these projects are led by the Commonwealth.

Mayor Wu is looking to move the crowds away from Mass and Cass and Atkinson Street, and temporarily house them at Shattuck Hospital. There are about 850 beds and a range of services would be provided from health care and treatment to workforce training.

“There’s a whole spectrum of treatment and recovery from the initial detox beds and low threshold shelter or housing to longer-term supports to workforce development, job training, case management, housing supports and then permanent housing,” said Mayor Wu.

This plan comes as city data shows Boston EMS responses to the Mass and Cass corridor have doubled from a year ago.

“Hundreds more people have arrived,” said Mayor Wu. “We are seeing folks come in not only from across the state but all across the country.”

Mayor Wu says community organizations are pulling outreach workers off the street because it’s become too dangerous. People living in the South End say they are tired and frustrated and want to see something done to fix the problem.

“The mayor seems to be acknowledging this for the first time in her administration that things are out of control,” said Jonathan Alves, a South End resident.

On top of using Shattuck Hospital, the mayor also says she is eyeing another plan four years out---and that is rebuilding the bridge to Long Island.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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