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From YouTube: Mass and Cass Update - 5/24/22
Description
Boston Mayor Wu hosts a press conference to share updates on the City of Boston’s response to the homelessness and substance use disorder crises centered in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard.
A
So
I
want
to
recognize
and
you'll
hear
from
some
folks
shortly,
but
our
senior
advisor
dr
monica
burrell
who's
been
leading
these
efforts,
our
director
of
the
boston
public
health
commission,
dr
pisola
ojukutu,
our
chief
of
housing,
sheila,
dillon,
lieutenant
peter
messina,
boston,
police
department,
street
outreach
unit.
We
have
commissioner
jack
dempsey
from
the
boston
fire
department.
A
We
have
chief,
jim
pooley
from
ems,
our
superintendent
of
street
operations
from
the
public
works
department,
mike
broell,
as
well
as
outreach
officers
cato
francis
and
natasha
lahara.
So
thank
you
so
much
and
you'll
also
hear
from
our
partners
in
city
and
state
government,
city,
councilor,
aaron,
murphy,
state
representatives,
liz
miranda
and
john
santiago.
A
A
We
worked
with
partners
at
the
state
providers
across
the
community
and
created
new
low
threshold,
housing
and
shelter
options
for
residents
experiencing
homelessness,
substance,
use
order
and
mental
health
challenges.
This
effort
has
helped
over
200
people
transition
from
living
on
the
street
and
into
warm
safe
beds.
A
A
More
than
10
city
departments,
including
the
boston
public,
health,
commission,
boston
police
department,
office
of
housing
and
public
works
department,
boston,
fire
ems
make
up
our
coordinated
response
team.
All
of
them
are
working
towards
our
shared
goal
of
connecting
all
experiencing
homelessness
or
substance,
use,
disorder
to
services,
shelter
and
housing.
A
Together,
this
cross-departmental
team
developed
the
warm
weather
plan
to
address
the
unique
needs
near
mass
and
cast
during
these
warmer
seasons.
It's
not
just
about
making
sure
that
recovery
resources
are
available
but
also
accessible
and
making
sure
that
every
person
can
navigate
the
system
of
treatment
of
shelter
and
of
services.
A
So
here
are
the
goals
of
this
warm
weather
plan,
first,
to
improve
public
safety
through
close
coordination
between
the
boston,
public
health,
commission
and
boston
police
department's
outreach
teams,
as
well
as
our
for
our
all
of
our
first
responders
and
and
public
safety
agencies.
Second,
to
improve
health
and
cleanliness.
A
This
is
our
immediate,
short-term
response
to
these
crises
in,
at
the
same
moment
we're
also
developing
strategic
initiatives
to
decentralize
and
improve
substance
use
and
housing
services.
Our
efforts
to
expand
access
to
low
threshold
housing
and
shelter
over
the
last
six
months
couldn't
have
succeeded
without
support
and
innovation
from
our
partners.
A
We'll
continue
working
with
our
partners
at
the
state
to
reimagine
the
shattuck
hospital
campus,
with
the
focus
on
acute
treatment,
services
and
low
threshold,
transitional
housing
and
shelter.
We're
also
looking
at
all
other
city
resources
and
spaces
and
as
reflected
in
our
capital
budget,
we'll
continue
repairing
and
stabilizing
the
existing
buildings
on
long
island
as
we
review
the
possibilities
for
that
site.
A
Additionally,
we
are
looking
to
decentralize
these
services
and
ensure
resources
are
available
across
our
communities,
not
just
in
one
part
of
the
city
we'll
work
to
integrate
harm
reduction
practices
into
all
our
health
care
settings,
and
that
means
that
people
looking
for
services,
treatment,
medication
and
care
will
be
able
to
find
that
in
their
own
neighborhoods
at
their
local
community.
Health
centers,
integrating
harm
reduction
into
health
services
across
boston
will
help
us
ensure
that
each
person's
journey
through
substance
use
and
towards
recovery
will
be
supportive,
welcoming
and
effective.
A
B
C
Thank
you,
mayor
wu
for
your
introductory
comments
and
also
for
your
bold
leadership
in
this
area,
and
thank
you
all
for
joining
us
here
today.
Very
much
appreciate
you
being
here.
I'd
like
to
what
we'll
provide
now
is
a
little
bit
more
detailed
update
of
the
warm
weather
plan
and
the
strategic
outlook
to
develop
the
warm
weather
plan.
C
We
coordinated
across
city
departments
spoke
with
colleagues
from
cities
across
the
country
engaged
community
members
and
other
experts
in
public
health
and
public
safety,
as
well
as
had
dialogues
with
our
colleagues
in
the
city,
council
and
the
state
led
delegation.
We
also
drew
upon
prior
experience
that
boston
has
had
to
develop
the
warm
weather
plans.
11
point
plan,
which
you
can
see
here.
C
A
key
feature
of
the
warm
weather
plan
is
a
coordinated
response
across
city
departments.
This
includes
convening
every
day
to
plan
the
objectives
for
the
day
across
the
city
and
in
the
mass
cast
area
in
particular,
the
focus
is
on
the
needs
for
outreach
and
on
people
in
potential
encampments
who
need
our
services.
C
C
Also
a
thank
you
to
boston
healthcare
for
the
homeless
for
providing
on-site,
medical
and
behavioral
behavioral
health
services.
At
all
six
of
these
sites.
We
are
seeing
the
impact
of
these
on-site
services
with
results
showing
that,
just
in
these
last
130
days
of
the
programs
we
have
seen,
68
percent
of
residents
are
receiving
medical
and
primary
care.
C
D
D
The
boston
police
department
is
aware
of
the
many
challenges
in
and
around
the
mass
ave
melnier
cast
boulevard
area.
As
we
all
know,
this
is
a
dynamic.
This
is
a
dynamic
issue
involving
not
only
criminal
actors
but
also
victims,
suffering
from
substance
use,
disorder,
homelessness
and
mental
illness.
D
We
are
also
aware
of
the
impact
these
issues
have
had
on
the
community
as
a
whole.
If
you
live
a
work
in
this
neighborhood,
you
have
been
impacted
by
the
opioid
crisis
in
one
way
or
another.
The
challenges
surrounding
this
area
are
not
only
complex,
but
they
are
also
constantly
changing
through
the
ever-evolving
nature
of
the
opioid
epidemic.
D
With
the
warm
weather
now
here,
the
boston
police
department
understands
the
continued
challenges
for
the
neighborhood
and
for
the
agencies
operating
in
the
area.
In
addressing
these
challenges,
the
most
important
element
for
the
boston
police
department
is
maintaining
the
safety
of
all
by
disrupting
the
violence
that
has
occurred
and
continues
to
occur.
In
the
massachusetts,
ave,
milnercast
boulevard
area,
boston
police
department
is
committed
to
disrupting
this
violence
through
the
following
strategies:
number
one:
an
increased
law
enforcement
presence
in
the
area.
D
The
boston
police
department
has
dedicated
a
number
of
resources
to
the
massachusetts
boulevard
area
and
will
continue
to
do
so.
The
allocation
of
these
resources
is
based
off
the
following
incident.
Reports:
9-1-1
calls
for
service
3-1,
neighborhood
complaints,
community
complaints,
along
with
inter-agency
collaboration
number
two.
In
addition
to
an
increased
law
enforcement
presence,
the
boston
police
department
will
focus
on
continued
area
enforcement.
D
This
will
include
the
continuing
enforcement
of
all
drug
laws
and
all
all
laws
involving
human
trafficking,
the
apprehension
of
individuals
with
outstanding
warrants
and
the
prevention
and
enforcement
of
property
crimes
and
violent
crimes.
This
past
week
alone,
from
may
17
through
yesterday
at
3
pm,
we've
had
16
total
arrests
in
the
area.
D
These
arrests
include
the
arrest
of
individuals
outstanding
warrants
for
individuals,
trafficking
control
substances.
In
addition,
21
individuals
have
been
summoned
to
court.
These
summonses
were
for
drug
possession
and
sex
for
fee
last
one
individual
was
brought
to
court
on
a
section
35
warrant
of
apprehension
facilitated
by
the
family.
In
addition
to
increased
enforcement.
This
is
number
three.
We
will
continue
to
collaborate
with
the
district
attorney's
office
in
the
courts.
We
are
focusing
on
continued
diversion
for
individuals
suffering
from
substance,
use,
disorder,
mental
illness
and
homelessness.
D
While
working
towards
enforcement
for
the
criminal
actors
preying
on
these
individuals
number
four.
We
will
continue
to
continue
with
consistent,
centralized
messaging
by
all
law
enforcement
agencies
operating
in
the
area
to
change
the
overall
perception
of
the
area
regarding
what
is
allowed
and
what
is
not
allowed.
D
D
Overall,
the
most
important
aspects
of
the
situation
is
a
continued,
consistent,
comprehensive
public
health,
public
safety
and
community
approach.
This
increased
collaboration
sends
a
centralized
message
to
individuals
preying
on
victims
of
the
opioid
crisis
that
they
cannot
and
will
not
continue
to
victimize
people.
This
also
sends
the
message
that
we
will
help
those
who
are
in
desperate
need
of
help.
D
Finally,
I
want
to
highlight
a
recent
arrest
that
was
made
down
on
massachusetts
this
past
week,
and
this
will
allow
you
to
better
understand
the
dynamic
issues
we
are
facing
in
the
area.
During
an
investigation,
officers
observed
an
individual
distributing
narcotics
and
they
were
subsequently
arrested,
found
in
their
possession
was
the
following:
131
grams
of
fentanyl,
five
bags
of
methamphetamine
two
bags
of
crack
cocaine,
one
thousand
eight
hundred
and
sixty
three
dollars
a
pelican
that
appeared
to
be
a
real
firearm.
D
During
the
arrest,
the
individual
informed
the
officers
that
they
were
homeless,
that
they
were
an
addict,
had
zero
regrets
and
were
not
looking
to
get
sober
because
they
had
once
tried
to
get
sober
and
they
didn't
like
it.
This
highlights
the
complexity
of
the
situation.
The
massachusetts
have
in
millionaire
cast
boulevard
area.
As
you
can
see,
this
is
a
very
dynamic
and
complicated
situation
for
law
enforcement.
We
have
a
person
who
has
substance,
use
disorder,
who
is
trafficking
narcotics
and
does
not
want
any
assistance
with
sobriety.
D
We
continue
to
understand.
This
is
a
nationwide
issue
and
there
is
no
perfect
approach.
However,
the
boston
police
department
will
continue
to
work
as
partners
with
both
the
boston
public
health,
commission
and
the
community
to
explore
any
and
all
options.
We
also
ask
the
community
continues
to
assist
us
in
this
endeavor.
C
Thank
you
lieutenant
thank
you,
lieutenant
messina
and,
as
we
all
as
we
all
know-
and
the
lieutenant
alluded
to
this
is
an
incredibly
complex
issue,
multifaceted
and
require
all
of
us
working
together.
To
that
end,
we
want
to
spend
a
few
minutes
now
talking
with
you
about
our
long-term
strategic
outlook.
C
As
we
spoke
about
in
january,
the
encampments
are
a
symptom
of
the
way
our
existing
systems
have
failed
individuals
who
are
unsheltered,
many
of
whom
use
substances
that
led
us
to
establish
our
six
transitional
programs
and
develop
our
mid
and
long
term
strategic
outlook.
Since
january,
we
have
worked
to
care
for
over
264
individuals
in
these
sites.
C
We
have
increased
our
outreach
efforts
to
individuals
still
unsheltered.
In
fact,
our
february
street,
right
and
unsheltered
homeless
count
showed
that
the
number
of
unsheltered
city-wide
was
unsheltered
homeless
city.
While
it
was
119.
the
first
time.
This
number
has
thankfully
dropped
since
the
pandemic.
We
know
there
is
much
more
work
to
do.
To
that
end.
We
spent
the
last
several
months
talking
with
over
250
stakeholders.
Many
of
you
thank
you
for
being
here
today
are
here.
C
This
included
members
of
our
communities
with
lived
experience,
clinical
experts,
housing
providers,
service
providers,
faith-based
organizations,
community
members,
business
owners,
elected
officials
and
colleagues
around
the
country.
Many
of
you
are
here
and
again
I
want
to
thank
you
for
your
invaluable
partnership
in
this
work.
We
developed
a
strategic
outlook
for
the
city
to
use
to
further
enhance
the
care
of
individuals
who
are
unsheltered
many
with
substance
use
disorders.
C
There
are
four:
there
are
over
40
items
overall.
The
goal
of
this
work
is
to
incorporate
caring
for
unsheltered
homeless
individuals
into
our
existing
systems
in
meaningful
and
effective
ways,
including
by
providing
outreach,
improving
access
to
treatment,
recovery
and
housing
services
and
making
improvements
to
the
systems
of
the
care
that
will
benefit
all
users
of
the
system.
C
C
We
are
focused
on
doing
this
work
through
a
health
equity
lens
we're
working
to
expand
our
community
outreach
program,
first
piloted
in
nubian
square,
where
community
members
are
directly
engaged
with
outreach
efforts
that
are
individualized
to
their
community
needs.
We
will
expand
these
programs
based
on
a
data-driven
approach.
This
data
and
more
details
can
be
found
on
our
new
masscast
website.
That
will
that
is,
that
launched
today
at
boston.gov,
slash,
mass
mass
cast.
C
E
E
Now
that
the
safety
protocols
have
been
implemented,
the
engagement
center
will
be
open
on
a
limited
basis
for
delivery
of
both
medical
and
social
services.
However,
the
engagement
center
will
not
be
reopening
at
this
time
as
a
day.
Space
clinical
care,
harm
reduction
and
other
services
will
be
available.
These
are
critical
and
our
outreach
workers
will
maintain
their
presence
in
the
area.
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
The
boston
public
health
commission
has
worked
tirelessly
with
partners
for
many
years
in
collaboration
to
engage
individuals
living
with
substance,
disorder
and
services,
providing
referrals
to
treatment,
reducing
harm,
offering
medical
care
and
improving
access
to
housing,
and
we
look
forward
to
continuing
to
do
so
as
we
implement
this
strategic
vision.
Thank
you.
F
F
Three
increasing
permanent
housing
for
our
homeless,
while
enhanced
street
outreach
and
a
more
responsive
shelter
system
will
be
key
activities.
We
know
that
safe
supportive
housing
is
what
most
of
our
homeless
individuals
need
working
with
our
partners.
Many
of
them
are
here
today.
The
city
will
continue
to
create
supportive
housing
for
our
homeless
populations,
including
those
that
are
currently
unsheltered
and
living
on
the
street
in
recent
months.
F
Because
of
all
of
you
and
people
behind
me,
there's
been
a
very
intentional
push
to
house
individuals
living
on
the
street
city-wide.
To
date,
185
individuals
have
been
moved
into
permanent
housing
with
supportive
services.
An
additional
hundred
individuals
are
have
a
housing
resource
and
are
looking
for
an
apartment
that
they
can
rent.
F
What
has
become
clear
to
us,
though,
through
this
work,
is
it's
very,
very
difficult,
even
if
you
have
rent
payment
to
find
an
apartment
that
is
willing
to
rent
to
you,
especially
if
you've
got
housing
challenges,
maybe
less
than
perfect
credit
other
barriers.
To
that
end,
the
city
will
continue
to
assist
our
partners
to
build
or
acquire
new
supportive
housing
units.
F
We
now
have
800
units
of
permanent
supportive
housing
in
our
development
pipeline.
300
units
are
currently
in
construction.
We're
going
to
move
these
projects
forward
as
quickly
as
we
can,
and
I'm
here
to
say
we're
not
going
to
stop
here.
We're
going
to
continue
to
identify
new
sites,
new
resources
and
build
upon
this
progress,
so
increased
street
outreach,
improved
shelter
operations
and
additional
permanent
supportive
housing
are
all
key,
necessary
components
if
we're
going
to
decrease
our
housing
populations,
especially
those
that
are
unsheltered
and
living
on
our
streets.
Thank
you.
G
Thank
you
thank
you,
mayor
wu,
the
street
team
and,
of
course,
our
first
responders
for
your
leadership.
So
in
regards
to
the
homelessness
and
substance
use
crisis
centered
in
the
area
of
mass
ave
and
malnia
cass
boulevard.
I
am
I'm
happy
to
hear
and
know
that
we
must
prioritize
increasing
access
to
recovery
services
in
addressing
the
mental
health
and
behavioral
needs
of
those
struggling
in
this
area
of
boston
in
long
term.
G
I
fully
support
the
rebuilding
of
the
long
island
bridge,
so
a
comprehensive
recovery
campus
on
the
island
can
be
restored
once
again
and
the
much
needed
services
that
that
island
brought
us
until
that
can
happen.
I
will
continue
to
advocate
for
ending
the
and
decentralizing
the
clustering
of
treatment
services
in
the
small
area,
which
has
put
tremendous
and
unfair
pressure
on
neighborhoods
in
residence
in
the
south
end
roxbury,
south
boston
and
dorchester.
G
I
do
want
to
thank
officer
messina,
who
gave
a
thorough
and
encouraging
update
of
what
is
happening
at
the
south
end
newmarket
roxbury
working
group.
Many
of
you
may
be
on
those
bi-weekly
zoom
meetings,
so
that
was
encouraging.
So,
thank
you
very
much
for
all
you're
doing
there
and
I
also
want
to
shout
out.
We
know
there's
so
many
non-profits
in
this
space
who
are
doing
incredible
work.
I
know
the
phoenix
sober
gym.
That's
there
in
haymarket
sue
sullivan,
always
amazing,
your
team
of
street
cleaners.
I
I
drive
through
that
area.
G
Most
days
maybe
twice
a
day
and
when
I
see
them
cleaning
up
and
how
proud
they
are,
it
definitely
needs
to
be
increased
there
and
also
st
francis
house.
I
visited
last
week
and
was
told
by
karen
the
director
there
how
they
started
to
bust
several
of
the
homeless,
women
that
are
in
the
area
mass
and
cass
and
the
first
day
two
came
and
the
day
I
was
there,
there
were
over
40
using
the
services
at
st
francis
house,
so
it
is
working
and
it's
encouraging.
G
So
I
have
shared
my
family
story
of
substance
use
to
help
break
the
stigma
and
push
for
action.
The
more
people
I
shared
my
story
with
the
more
I
learned
that
so
many
families
struggle
with
this
in
silence.
They
become
isolated
when
what
we
need
to
do
most
is
surround
these
people
with
care.
We
need
to
keep
talking
about
it
and
we
need
to
be
more
supportive.
G
So
thank
you
for
everyone
here,
who's
doing
that
and
as
the
committee
chair
for
public
health,
homelessness
and
recovery
I'll
continue
to
comb
through
the
city
budget,
we
are
in
budget
season
and
find
some
funding
to
support
comprehensive
mental
health
and
behavioral
health
support
services
for
our
most
vulnerable
family
members
and
neighbors,
who
are
in
desperate
need
of
help.
So
thank
you
to
this
team.
It's
encouraging
to
see
the
warm
weather
plan,
but
also
in
the
same
space
we're
talking
about
long-term
solutions.
H
Good
afternoon,
everyone
I
want
to
start
off
by
thanking
those
that
are
in
front
of
me
right
now.
I
think
I've
worked
with
many
of
you,
not
just
as
an
elected
official,
but
also
as
a
frontline
provider
and
the
work
that
you
do
is
inspiring,
and
I
look
forward
to
that
continued
partnership.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
buu
administration
and
the
mayor
from
day
one
of
her
administration.
H
She
saw
a
collaboration
with
the
state
delegation
with
community
stakeholders
with
just
about
everyone
to
get
the
best
and
brightest
ideas,
and
it
was
no
easy
thing
to
address
the
encampment
issue
and
to
do
so
in
a
public
health-centered
way,
that's
saving
lives.
So
we
as
a
state
of
delegation,
representative
lisborough
and
I
have
been
partners
at
the
state
level
on
beacon,
help
fighting
for
more
funds.
H
A
couple
months
ago
we
were
successful,
getting
six
and
a
half
million
dollars
to
go
directly
to
address
services
and
provide
for
some
low
threshold
housing,
and
I
should
remind
everyone
that
state
is
moving
forward
to
providing
low
threshold
housing
throughout
the
state,
and
my
hope
is
that
we
can
fight
for
more
funding.
To
do
just
that,
but
I
want
to
remind
everyone
how
challenging
the
situation
is.
H
It
is
the
epicenter
of
housing,
mental
health
and
substance
use,
and
each
of
one
of
those
things
is
quite
difficult
in
their
own
right,
but
how
they
intersect
with
one
with
one
another
makes
it
incredibly
challenging,
and
so
this
plan
here
with
this
leadership
standing
behind
me,
really
presents
our
best
chance
at
this
time
to
address.
What's
going
on,
so
I'm
looking
forward
that
continued
partnership
and
I'm
looking
forward
to
the
work
ahead.
Thank
you
very
much.
I
Unlike
most
politicians,
I'm
going
to
be
very
brief,
because
I
have
a
little
bit
of
a
sore
throat
and
I
want
to
echo
all
the
sentiments
that
were
shared
today
just
right
before
I
got
here.
I
contacted
officer
cato
with
the
homeless
individual,
who
was
on
blue
halav,
and
I
just
want
to
leave
us
with
one
statement,
because
I'm
really
supportive
of
the
plan
that
we've
been
working
on
from
day
one
for
those
of
us
that
live
there
me
and
john
live
to
the
right
and
left
of
mass
and
cass.
I
This
has
been
an
eight
year
long
journey
and
we
want
to
encourage
that
everyone
that
lives
in
the
city.
You
might
be
thinking
that
we're
going
really
slow,
but
if
you
want
to
go
correctly,
you
have
to
be
intentional
and
you
have
to
work
collaboratively.
This
is
not
only
the
entire
city's
challenge.
It's
the
entire
city's
opportunity-
and
I
welcome
my
other
colleagues
in
the
state
to
see
it
as
not
only
a
challenge,
but
also
an
opportunity
for
us
to
come
together.
I
E
Here
so
I
think
that's
a
great
question.
As
I
mentioned,
we
need
to
meet
people
where
they're
at
we
need
to
have
service
centers
that
will
be
available
for
people
outside
of
this
mask
and
cast
area.
So
what
we're
hoping
is
that,
at
these
service
centers,
there
will
be
similar
services
to
what
we
are
providing
at
the
engagement
center
currently
including
harm
reduction,
including
case
management
assistance
with
legal
issues,
so
probation
issues
were
related
to
reentry.
E
J
E
F
We
certainly
know
where
the
six
sites
are.
The
low
threshold
sites
are
the
800
units
of
new
permanent
supportive
housing.
That
I
mentioned.
I
have
a
list.
We
know
every
single
location,
I'm
I'm
happy
to
report
they're,
not
in
the
the
most
impacted
area
of
the
city,
they're,
not
in
the
mass
cass
area.
J
A
So
I'll
invite
up
the
team,
but
I
will
say
I'll
just
stand
off
to
the
side
here
permanently
and
you
guys
can
filter
in
I'll
just
say.
The
goal
here
initially
is,
is
really
to
meet
people
where
they
are
and
to
understand
why
what
the
root
causes
are
of
the
challenges
that
we're
seeing
and
we
kind
of
outline
some
of
the
challenges,
including
overcrowding
in
in
public
spaces
and
and
the
the
ripple
effects
that
that
can
have,
particularly
for
a
population
that
has
needs
and
and
needs
access
to
services
and
treatment.
A
A
E
So
let
me
just
speak
to
a
little
bit
more
on
the
transportation.
Very
briefly,
so
we
are
piloting
that
service
right
now
we
have
a
van
that
we
are
running
from
the
front
of
our
112
shelter
to
four
different
sites:
saint
francis
house,
the
boston
living
center
rosie's
place
and
the
women's
lunch
place.
So
these
are
opportunities
for
people
to
get
on
the
shuttle
and
go
to
different
areas
of
the
city
for
other
services
that
they
may
not
even
be
getting
in
that
area.
E
L
A
I
was
able
to
take
part
in
some
of
the
community
listening
sessions
and
stakeholder
meetings
that
led
into
the
creation
of
this
plan
and
some
of
the
longer
term
and
medium-term
plans
that
are
in
place.
It
was
a
hallmark
of
how
this
team
has
wanted
to
move
to
start
by
really
listening
with
community
and
not
just
geographic
communities,
but
also
different
stakeholder
stakeholder
communities
representing
different
interest
groups
or
areas
of
concern,
or
involvement
and
across
the
board.
A
I
think
people
are
looking
to
be
part
of
the
solution
here,
and
everyone
understands
the
vast
majority
of
residents
and
community
partners
have
said
we
want
to
ensure
that
we
are
providing
first
and
foremost
the
services
that
everyone
in
our
city
needs
and
to
take
down
barriers
to
accessing
those
services.
Now,
of
course,
as
the
local
level
of
government,
we
don't
get
away
with
just
making
taking
position,
statements
or-
or
you
know,
signing
off
on
on
a
piece
of
legislation
or
designating
funding.
A
Our
role
is
to
really
step
in
where
the
rubber
meets
the
road
and
understand
all
of
the
impacts
intended
and
unintended
that
can
come
from
different
decisions,
and
so
we've
learned
a
lot
from
the
six
locations
that
are
up
and
running
right
now
for
low
threshold,
housing
and
services
and
treatment.
It's
been
a
great
partnership
and
we
thank
all
of
the
agencies
represented
here
so
much
and
the
communities
who've
been
involved,
and
so
all
of
that
has
been
going
smoothly.
A
We
have
learned
from
every
single
day
that
that
has
been
running
now
for
several
months
and
look
forward
to
working
with
and
expanding
even
more.
The
idea
is
that
I
think
in
some
ways
the
fear
that
I
had
heard
from
different
communities
or
different
conversations
was
well.
We
don't
want
to
just
pick
up
what
we
currently
see
near
mass
and
cass
and
put
it
somewhere
else
or
sort
of
shuffle
any
type
of
challenges
around.
This
is
really
about
getting
to
root
causes.