Mass and Cass: Showing What's Possible
Working to better serve unsheltered neighbors experiencing substance use disorder centered in the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, also known as ‘Mass and Cass’.
In recent years, the opioid epidemic, the housing crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to an increase in those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Mass and Cass.
To address these intersecting crises in January 2022, under Mayor Wu’s leadership, the City carried out a public health-led emergency response to the encampments in the area including introducing a housing surge and helping over 145 unhoused neighbors transition into low threshold housing.
Currently, the City’s Coordinated Response Team (CRT) is working with twelve City agencies and departments to continue to transform how the City of Boston cares for its unhoused neighbors that are impacted by substance use disorder and promote health and safety in Mass and Cass’s surrounding communities.
The CRT continues to follow a public health-led approach and is guided by:
- The City’s Long Term Strategic Outlook plan
- Regularly updated Data Dashboard
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Have questions? Contact:
Recovery Services
Latest Updates
Public Health Emergency Response (Jan. 2022)
To respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Mass and Cass area, the City took a public health-led and equity-focused approach. The City worked to transition people staying in tents to low-barrier shelters and housing. These “low-threshold” spaces are more supportive for individuals with a substance use disorder. They also practice harm reduction and offer a range of critical services and referrals.
| Key Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
| Low-Threshold Programs | Programs that do not have strict entry requirements related to abstinence or engagement in treatment and services. |
| Harm Reduction | An evidence-based practice that reduces harm from drug use and engages people in care. |
Understanding the unsheltered community at Mass and Cass
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) conducted a survey from September 24 to October 19, 2022 to:
- better understand the needs of the neighborhood's unsheltered individuals, and
- ensure equal and fair access to resources across race, ethnicity, and gender.
Low-threshold Transitional Housing and shelter Sites
From November 2021 to January 2022, the City worked with our partners and the state to open six low-threshold sites, totaling 200 beds. These new transitional shelter and housing sites provide critical supportive services. They also help individuals transition to long-term housing and/or treatment.
Each site is equipped with staffing and security, and aims to connect guests to:
- medical care, including primary care
- psychiatric and mental health care
- housing navigation services, and
- substance use disorder care and treatment, counseling, and education.
Ways to Help
- Learn how to volunteer and help by visiting the BPHC website.
- Want to donate? Email donations@bphc.org
- Do you know of housing opportunities or do you have an apartment or room to rent? Please email us at Info@bphc.org
- Support permanent supportive housing in your community. Learn more at Friends of Boston's Homeless and MAMH.
- Do you have or know of employment opportunities? Call the Newmarket Jobs Initiative at 617-506-3983.
- Learn more about substance use disorder and mental health, and share with your family and friends. Here are some resources: City of Boston’s Office of Recovery Services, MDPH Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, National Institute of Mental Health, and MAHA.
