My proposals to strengthen Boston for all of Boston. No longer concern just for the elite few.
Homelessness:
There are over 1,000 homeless people in the city of Boston. People were left homeless and wandering on our streets.
My plans:
I propose a yearly fee for the colleges in the city of Boston. Those yearly fees would go toward lowering property taxes. The program is to support homeless and unhoused people.
A moratorium on building condominiums in the city of Boston. While the 10-year condominium moratorium is in effect, the only approved housing to be built will be multi-unit affordable housing units.
Condominiums create housing few can afford. Condominiums take away land that could be used for multi apartment buildings.
The costs of condominiums lead to gentrification of lower income communities l. Creating extremely high priced rents in those communities. We see this in Chinatown, Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan today.
Detoxification
Work with city and state detox and rehabilitation programs to provide 24-hour access to beds for treatment and rehabilitation.
Begin identifying and creating rehabilitation group homes for those newly out of treatment.
Once group treatment has ended, identify homes for those in recovery. Either single or living with a roommate.
A new approach could be establishing partnerships with other cities where those in recovery could move for a change in their recovery and growth.
I propose requiring those homeless identified as mentally Ill, to be forced confined for 60 days to be detoxed, medicated and moved towards group to single or roommate housing.
Department of Homeless Teens
Homeless teens often wander the streets and even different cities at times. Lost with no support and nowhere to go.
Boston will create a department directly for homeless teens only.
The agency's goal will be treatment, housing, counseling, and family reunification when possible.
We will create group housing and education programs in the trades, getting their high school equivalency and college.
When possible, family reunification with counseling and family support will be the goal.
Rent
Boston must create an ordinance banning property owners from charging prospective tenants earning 2x to 3x the rent monthly to live in their property.
Create a database of property owners willing to rent to formerly homeless people and their families. To rent to those in recovery, seniors, the disabled, and felons. A database that would include those with low or poor credit.
Innovation in homelessness and housing.
I propose a program that would guarantee property owners who take in so-called high-risk tenants that if the tenant doesn't pay their rent, the program would pay their rent.
The property owner would not be left with no rent and a loss.
The tenant who did not pay would be moved to the back of the list for future housing. Tenants would be given regular case management and support. Would be required to take classes on budgeting and other programs for successful tenancy.
Boston needs a program to educate and support property owners about the resources they are eligible for and working with tenants.
Homeless Shelters
Boston needs ordinances on homeless shelters operating in the city of Boston. Homeless people are people first.
Putting people on the street in the mornings with nowhere to go and no resources is not helpful or supportive.
I would put a task force together on homeless shelters to create guidelines and rules for operating shelters in the city of Boston.
Boston will need “wet shelters” to deal with the addicted homeless who refuse treatment.
Those caught in their addiction should not be left to die or struggle in the streets.
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