By Nicole Abrams, Investigative Editor
• October 16, 2025
South End residents have formed the Mass and Cass Political Action Committee to inform voters of moves made by city council candidates surrounding the public health and safety issues plaguing the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard — also known as Mass and Cass.
By Liam Dunne, Managing Co-Editor
• 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
