Sheriff Proposes Involuntarily Committing People Living At Mass And Cass For Treatment

There are now hundreds of people living on the streets around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.

Over the last few weeks, we have been bringing you news of the worsening crisis there, one rooted in substance use disorder and homelessness.

Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins has been watching their tents go up with dismay, and now he has his own idea for how to address the humanitarian crisis — renovate a now-vacant section of the South Bay House of Corrections to house and treat people struggling with homelessness and addiction.

We talk to Sheriff Tompkins, and then hear from WBUR's Deborah Becker.