Massachusetts Division of Conservation and Recreation officers stated they’re seeing an increase in unhoused individuals and unauthorized encampments alongside state-owned property, a state of affairs that has created public well being, security, and environmental dangers.
Employees on the company have began to wash up encampments alongside the Boston College Bridge close to Storrow Drive, two websites with a number of tents alongside the inbound aspect of Troopers Subject Street, and a tent close to Journal Seashore in Cambridge, in accordance with company officers.
A spokesperson for the Division of Conservation and Recreation stated the company just lately employed a public well being advisor and has labored with the Division of Public Health to filter the encampments.
“We are seeing a rise in unhoused individuals and unauthorized encampments and tents on DCR-owned property, which has created public health, safety, and environmental risks, including fires and erosion,” the spokesperson stated in an announcement to the Herald.
The spokesperson stated the company “is collaborating with agency partners, municipalities, legislators, and local health and social service organizations to protect our public lands and to provide unhoused individuals with the opportunity to receive essential care services.”
A spike in encampments on state property comes after the Boston Metropolis Council accepted a measure in October 2023 that allowed police to filter the tents close to Massachusetts Ave and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Tents began coming down weeks later.
Employees cleansing the 4 websites on DCR property have discovered a number of propane tanks weighing about 20 kilos every, illicit substances, massive piles of rubbish, and human waste, in accordance with the spokesperson. These findings pose security dangers for close by college students at a highschool and Boston College, the company stated.
Improperly discarded propane tanks close to open flames are an explosion danger wherever, however particularly close to a bridge or a road with closely congested site visitors like Troopers Subject Street, in accordance with the company.
Lively propane tanks, even when they’re used correctly, additionally pose an explosion danger that might hurt unhoused individuals on the encampments and different individuals at companies, faculties, and drivers on the Boston College Bridge and Troopers Subject Street, the company stated.
A hearth broke out in October 2023 at a homeless encampment by the Boston College Bridge, inflicting injury to state property and making a public security danger within the space, the spokesperson stated.
The general public well being advisor and DCR area workers assess the chance encampments pose to the general public and the setting after receiving a report of the websites.
If the chance is deemed excessive because of hazardous supplies like propane tanks or unlawful substances, the positioning must be cleaned up shortly, the spokesperson stated.
Within the week after the affirmation of a clean-up, DCR officers present discover to the unhoused individuals on the web site and workers place notices to vacate on unauthorized encampments and tents, the company stated.
The notices inform folks that they should transfer and supply them with details about social service organizations that may help with their relocation, the spokesperson stated.
For the encampment close to the Boston College Bridge, the spokesperson stated native providers organizations primarily based in Boston had been notified about 4 weeks upfront of the cleanup with a request from DCR to extend outreach earlier than and in the course of the elimination, the spokesperson stated.
Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Division of Conservation and Recreation officers stated they’re seeing an increase in unauthorized encampments alongside state-owned property, together with close to the Boston College Bridge and Storrow Drive. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Picture By Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Homeless encampments on state-owned property close to the Boston College Bridge and Storrow Drive, which has created public well being, security, and environmental dangers. (Picture By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
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