City Council asks for assistance for homeless people on Diamond Creek

  During the discussion over the possibility of Boston relocating homeless people living along Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard to Revere, several City Councillors pointed out that Revere needs to take care of the homelessness situation within its own borders.

  Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo is asking Mayor Brian Arrigo to contact the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) to obtain services for an encampment of homeless people living on Diamond Creek between North Shore Road and Ocean Avenue. “Here’s the thing: No one should have to live like that,” said Rotondo. “These people are suffering, and we need to do better.”

  Rotondo said that in addition to the homeless living outside in miserable conditions, the Diamond Creek is prone to flooding. He said he talked to city Finance Director Richard Viscay about the availability of federal funds to help the homeless in the area, and to representatives from the city’s Substance Use Disorders Initiative (SUDI) department about what can be done in the area. “We had former acting [Boston] Mayor [Kim] Janey try to stuff people in a hotel in North Revere near a liquor store where they would be isolated, and we can’t handle our own homelessness issue,” said Rotondo.

  Locally, Rotondo said, people can donate gloves, jackets, blankets and other items to SUDI on Revere Street, which can then be given to the homeless. He added that SUDI also provides opportunities for the homeless to warm up and shower at its offices.

  “I do have to say that I did get some complaints from the neighbors; some of them were complaints that these people were going into their backyards and stealing from them,” said Rotondo. Additionally, he said there have been reports of cars being broken into on Ocean Avenue.

  Ward 5 Councillor John Powers said the Diamond Creek area is in his ward. “The property in question, except for a river running through it, is a ditch,” said Powers. “It certainly is not only an embarrassment; it’s something that should not be going on in this city or in any city in the Commonwealth.”

  Powers said officials from the Mayor’s Office, the Health Department and the Police Department are working to address the issue and get assistance for the people living in the encampment. “No one should live like that, and it’s not getting better – it’s getting worse,” said Powers.

  Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna said there is also a homeless encampment on Furlong Drive past Target.