In recent months, Boston has seen a decrease in the number of homeless as a result of Mayor Thomas Menino’s focus on housing solutions.
Since 2005, there has been a decrease of 30 percent in homelessness as well as a 25 percent reduction in the chronically homeless, according to a press release from the City of Boston and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The decrease is due to a shift from addressing homelessness with emergency resources to providing the homeless with permanent housing.
“We know a simple fact: keys cure homelessness,” said Joe Finn, the President and Executive Director of Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, in a press release last month.
The MHSA is a non-profit public policy advocacy organization, which helps the homeless to seek a strategy to end homelessness to find permanent housing.
“This year we are still waiting for the count but the increase in permanent housing has had a critical impact on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Finn said in an interview.
The number of critically homeless, people homeless for more then a year or four times in three years, dropped from 962 people to 725. The number of homeless overall dropped from 3,944 to 2,747.
Menino was honored with the Public Innovator Award at the MHSA Annual Meeting for leading the reduction of homelessness in Boston.
“The Mayor has been a leader in ending homelessness and you can see the results of his work in these numbers,” said Lyndia Downie, president and CEO of Pine Street Inn, in a press release.
Pine Street Inn is a Boston-based organization dedicated to alleviating homelessness.
“The shelters are wide open with welcoming arms,” Finn said.
“We have to keep in mind that some of the people we see on the streets don’t like going to the shelters or have their own reasons for not going but the shelters are prepared and ready to help the homeless during these cold months.”
Menino announced in a press release this week that due to record low temperatures, residents must check on the homeless that may need assistance.
“Under Mayor Menino, Boston has been a national, innovative leader in developing programs that work to move homeless individuals,” said Finn.
Menino has advised Boston residents to call on the police to transport any homeless to a shelter or the police will give them a blanket they have on hand.
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