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The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University

The Daily Free Press

The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University.

The Daily Free Press

The Daily Free Press

EnVision Hotel Boston website home page. Mayor Wu announced the acquisition of enVision Hotel Jan. 30, a homeless shelter that has been operated by Victory Programs Inc. since November 2021. SARAH CRUZ/DFP PHOTOGRAPHER

EnVision Hotel acquired by City of Boston to support permanent housing for homeless residents

Liam Dunne February 10, 2025
Mayor Michelle Wu announced Jan. 30 the acquisition of enVision Hotel, a homeless shelter that has been operated by Victory Programs Inc. since November 2021.
People in the area known as Mass and Cass in 2022. The Boston Parks and Recreation Department is renovating Roxbury’s Clifford Playground following action taken last month to break up the homeless encampments at nearby Mass and Cass. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON/DFP FILE

Redevelopment discussions continue for park near Mass. and Cass

Sebastian Castro December 7, 2023
A month after the removal of homeless encampments at the intersection known as Mass. and Cass, discussions regarding a nearly $6 million redevelopment of a nearby park continue to be focused on community safety.
Lila Baltaxe | Senior Graphic Artist

The ghost of Mass. and Cass will still haunt Boston | Editorial

Editors November 6, 2023
Last week Mayor Wu oversaw the clearing of tents from Mass. and Cass, something the city has tried before and always results in the encampment coming back, because to finally get rid of Mass. and Cass for good Boston will have to change the way it thinks about homelessness.
People in the area known as Mass and Cass in 2022.

Wu clears out Mass. and Cass as state shelters near capacity

Anna Rubenstein November 3, 2023
The last tent came down at the area known as Mass. and Cass on Wednesday, a clear-out that has been nearly two years in the making for Mayor Michelle Wu and one that has provoked questions of its purpose and sustainability, especially as state shelters reach their capacity.
Homeless individuals

City harm reduction initiative targeted at Mass and Cass prompts varying reactions

Sara Creato November 1, 2022
The City of Boston announced an initiative to tackle drug use of the unhoused population at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard at an Oct. 20 press conference.  
Roxbury community center

New engagement day center opens in Roxbury for unhoused people

Xiaoya Shao October 21, 2022
The Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury launched a new engagement center on Oct. 7 to provide medical care, behavioral health and basic needs services for unhoused people.
Homeless individuals use umbrellas and tarps as shelter. Boston struggles to handle the substantial homeless population on Massachusetts Avenue. ANDREW BURKE-STEVENSON/DFP STAFF

Mass and Cass sees growing number of homeless encampments

Zach Schwartz September 26, 2022
The City has not announced any new initiatives for tackling specifically Mass and Cass despite a growing unhoused population on the intersection.
Mayor Michelle Wu

Mayor Michelle Wu’s 2022 Initiatives

Bella Ramirez June 7, 2022
See the FreeP's interactive timeline overviewing Wu's efforts for housing, race, transportation and climate.
Smaran Ramidi / DFP Staff

EDITORIAL: You cannot “clean up” a humanitarian crisis, Mayor Janey, Sheriff Tompkins

Editors October 28, 2021
Boston’s new plan to forcibly remove people from their living encampments in the area near Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard is based on criminalization — an approach that may make things worse.
Yvonne Tang / DFP Staff

ENDORSEMENT: A vote for Michelle Wu

Editors October 21, 2021
We, as a paper, endorse Michelle Wu because we believe in her vision, and we trust in her ability to achieve it.
Alexia Nizhny / DFP Staff

EDITORIAL: The closing of Methadone Mile ‘comfort station’ is a life or death issue

Editors September 3, 2021
Politicians should provide actual treatment options for people with substance abuse issues rather than removing essential resources that mean life and death for the residents of the Methadone Mile.
Boston mayoral candidates John Barros, Andrea Campbell, Kim Janey, Annissa Essaibi George, Jon Santiago and Michelle Wu at the Suffolk County House of Corrections May 28. The candidates addressed criminal justice reform, mental health resources and more at their first in-person mayoral forum. COURTESY OF PETER VAN DELFT

Suffolk County Sheriff Department holds first in-person 2021 mayoral forum

Madison Mercado June 2, 2021
Six Boston mayoral candidates debated in the first in-person forum of the year last Wednesday.
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