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Wu calls for state help on 'Mass. and Cass'

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is calling on the state to fund 1,000 units of low-threshold housing units outside the city to help those struggling with addiction and housing insecurity who are now living at the area around Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.

"The city of Boston, as an individual municipality with the funding that we have, is not able to to serve the tremendous amount of need that continues growing," Wu said on WBUR's Radio Boston. "If the state were to create a thousand new, similar low threshold supportive housing units outside the city of Boston. We believe that that is what would be really transformational and in solving this entire issue."

Since January, the city of Boston has built upwards of 200 low-threshold units, which, according to Wu, has connected roughly 400 people with housing services of some form. It's a method, she said, that helps people get more stability in their lives.

"The ability to stay on your treatment plan, to see your doctor, and then to actually see real gains for any individual. It's night and day," Wu said.

According to Wu, upwards of half of those living at "Mass. and Cass" are from outside Boston. The call for the units comes as the city cleared tents and encampments from Southampton Street to Atkinson Street near the city's engagement center last week.

Wu also talked about increasing transparency in the upcoming police union collective bargaining process, ways to fix the MBTA, and how Boston can improve its night life economy.

Headshot of Amanda Beland

Amanda Beland Senior Producer
Amanda Beland is a producer and director for Radio Boston. She also reports for the WBUR newsroom.

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Headshot of Tiziana Dearing

Tiziana Dearing Host, Radio Boston
Tiziana Dearing is the host of Radio Boston.

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