City officials, Boston Police and volunteers conducted a homeless census on the night of January 12th and 13th throughout Boston.
In District A-1 (Downtown, North End, Beacon Hill, West End), 53 individuals were counted on the streets. The homeless number is down from 72 last year at the same time. The census is done twice a year to ascertain the level of homelessness in the city and to provide shelter and other services.
Around the North End / Waterfront, three homeless individuals were counted on the Greenway and one at Long Wharf. No homeless were found on these particular overnights at the Steriti Skating Rink / Harborwalk, Christopher Columbus Park or Copp’s Hill Terrace. The homeless census results were reported at the February 2016 North End Public Safety Meeting.
Within the downtown A-1 district, most of homeless individuals were found on Causeway Street near North Station and in Downtown Crossing at Winter and Bromfield Streets. Of those counted, 28% were female and 81% were non-Boston residents.
It’s so sad that we have homelessness here in Boston. We need to take care of our homeless and hungry and then we can take care of other countries.
I can’t believe the amount of homeless veterans there are! It’s terrible.
It’s nice to know that the homelessness in Area A-1 is down from last year.
Since the closing of the Long Island Shelter, there are so many more homeless people around the city. The Mayor is actively setting up an alternative location. I do not think the numbers are accurate because we all can count more than was reported as we walk around at night. The day is a different story because there is a difference between homeless and professional beggars and druggies. My teenage daughter has witnessed more drug deals than any kid should. Many of the folks panhandling in Back Bay can be heard asking each other to watch their car, etc. The city needs to be more proactive in assessing who is in need of help as in sick or homeless, and just plain riff raff that should be moved along.
does anyone know anything about the homeless woman who I have seen in the north end for nearly a decade at least? she must be in late 40s, has longer hair, and is wearing a long coat. i always give her the money in my pocket when I see her. i tell her to get something to eat. she always seems grateful, but like many homeless, she does not seem all there.
All I know is that she has been here for at least a decade. She Is always polite, always grateful for whatever anyone does for her and although she may have issues, as far as I know she has never caused any problems. There used to be people in the neighborhood who looked out for her but not sure if that is still the case. The same cannot be said for one homeless woman who was hanging out by CVS recently and being nasty and screaming at people who did not give her money.
Yes, I see her often. You are kind to give her support. As you say, she doesn’t seem ‘all there’. She isn’t. Mental illness is a major contributor to homelessness, and since many institutions were closed years back, (to save money for the mental health system), these people were dumped onto the streets. Most do not take, or have, medication. They become delusional and believe it or not, it’s difficult to get them off the streets. I have seen examples while living in Manhattan for 10 years. They find their niche, and won’t move, even with caring parents who encourage them. When I lived there, the New York Times ran a full page article on a woman called Judy, who had a Ph.D., was good looking and from a good family.
Everyday she’d be parked on the same street corner, all tan, wrapped in sweaters and sitting on rumpled blankets, 90 degrees or not, and at night sleeping on stoops screaming profanities. The article brought to the fore the fact that these poor people are attached to their street life.
Her name is Marlene. Ditto above.
Use caution when approaching or being approached by the homeless population.This woman is harmless but many of them are not & some are psychotic and dangerous. Anyone remember the two park rangers stabbed on Boston Common one almost fatally by a homeless man? I commend anyone who would feed them but I would discourage giving them $$ for many all your doing is feeding their habit.
I love it. 81% of the homeLESS were not Boston RESIDENTS. Unreal. There are 7,000 homeless people in Boston. This street count is a ridiculous metric.