Homelessness in Boston is a significant and multifaceted issue that impacts individuals and communities across the city. Homelessness in Boston is often driven by a combination of factors, including lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and trauma. Structural issues such as systemic racism, housing discrimination, and inadequate social safety nets also contribute to homelessness disproportionately affecting certain communities, including Black and Latino individuals. And, when you go to the methadone mile, the predominant person you see is a person of color.
Caroline states, “Basic need is the creation of deeply affordable housing, and housing that is a really low barrier, I think there’s a lot of stigma with folks that are in that area. And so like, even if they could locate housing, I think a lot of discrimination happens sort of based on the struggles that they present with. And so I think it’s a couple of things like the housing has to be really affordable. And it has to be, like, low bid low to no barrier to get people into housing. So hopefully, they can begin to stabilize”. Sometimes the reason people are homeless, and turn to drugs is because instead of the city helping towards what they call “affordable housing”, they are instead making it unaffordable for those to actually live in because they are not fully financially stable to live in housing.
The opioid crisis in Boston, Massachusetts, is a pressing public health issue with significant social, economic, and health ramifications. The opioid crisis in Boston is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires sustained attention and resources to effectively address. While progress has been made in expanding access to treatment and implementing harm reduction measures, there is still much work to be done to prevent overdose deaths, support individuals in recovery, and address the root causes of opioid addiction. Boston, like many cities across the United States, has been significantly impacted by the opioid crisis.
The crisis is characterized by high rates of opioid addiction, overdose deaths, and associated health problems. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related overdose deaths have remained alarmingly high in Boston and the surrounding region in recent years, despite efforts to address the crisis. The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities in Boston. High rates of addiction and overdose deaths have left a trail of trauma and grief, while straining healthcare and social service systems. Communities already facing socio economic challenges, such as poverty and homelessness, are disproportionately affected by the crisis.
