We are constantly reminded in this work of the monopoly the state has on power and protection of property. While one arm of the state prosecutes people living in deep poverty for shoplifting from multi-billion dollar corporations to survive, another arm of the state comes in with bulldozers to destroy people’s homes and belongings. Capitalists will claim that only they respect people’s right to personal property. What this really means is that the state protects the property of places like Walmart ($648 BILLION in revenue for 2024), while destroying the property of people who cannot afford to live inside.
While our goal is eventual destruction of this unjust system, in the meantime we’re left to provide where the state has failed. If you’re able to chip in to purchase new tents (~$60 for a used tent, ~$250 for a new one) for residents after this latest sweep, please use the link in our bio.

#WarmUpBoston #EncampmentSupport #MutualAid #SweepsAreViolence #FuckTheTentBan #SolidarityNotCharity

Cruelty is the point: while the rest of Boston hunkers down in air conditioning, residents of the encampment are settling back in after another sweep early this week.

Residents were told by DCR that a sweep was impending on Tuesday, and we were prepared to assist with helping them Tuesday morning. However, on Monday morning, a volunteer spotted the sweep already in action a full day before the residents were told to expect and prepare for it.

We quickly mobilized and had a team of volunteers on site within an hour to help with the logistics and labor of moving. However, many belongings were still destroyed by DCR, and many residents have been awake for days on end, making them even more susceptible to this week’s heat emergency.

We’ve followed up each day since—some of the hottest this year—with aftercare for the residents, including ice, extra harm reduction supplies, extra water, breakfast sandwiches, PBJs, electrolyte tablets, liquid IV, and a birthday surprise for a resident.

Our focus is, as always, keeping our unhoused neighbors as safe and healthy as possible in a system designed to abuse them.

What’s the point of the sweeps, if not cruel punishment for the crime of being unhoused? As one resident put it: “They just don’t want us getting comfortable.”

With these punitive practices and inhumane treatment, DCR and the City of Boston make it clear that they do not see the unhoused as human beings, deserving of respect and compassion, rather they see them as an inconvenience to be swept aside at a moments notice.

#SweepsAreViolence #FuckTheTentBan #WarmUpBoston #SurvivalProgram #StopTheSweeps #ServeThePeople

It’s about that time of year where we unofficially become Cool Down Boston! Fighting the heat is extra hard for folks who live outside like our neighbors at the encampment. Lack of access to things like drinking water, air conditioning, and refrigerators adds extra challenges to basic survival needs like nutrition, hydration, and staying cool enough. Additionally, sweeps generally increase in the summer leading to belongings getting confiscated or damaged and making it harder to meet basic needs.

During the summer, we add ice to our usual distro goods and try our best to give extra water. We’ve also increased the number of meals and other supplies in recent weeks to try to meet increased needs. Unfortunately, this is all somewhat limited by a general drop in donations, both monetarily and in supplies provided by other community groups.

This morning we responded to a sweep that residents were told would be tomorrow, and we are in the process of trying to replace things like tents, tarps, and bedding. Stay tuned for a more detailed update.

If you’d like to help your unhoused neighbors beat the heat during this upcoming heat wave and the next, please use the link in our bio to become a regular donor!

#SweepsAreViolence #EncampmentSupport #MutualAidBoston #WarmUpBoston #FuckTheTentBan

Our comrades returned to the encampment this week to drop off essential supplies for survival. This included a chili, cases of water, along with other requested items.

Our solidarity with the homeless begins on the most human level, to make sure everyone has the means to survive before anything else. It has become immensely normalized for us to simply look the other way. This is in fact, not normal. This is drilled into us from a young age that some people in this world just can't support themselves. They leave out the landlords, bosses, and cops who push us out onto the street. And they sanctify the rampant neglect of our politicians to do anything substantial about it.

Our solidarity with the homeless begins on this human level, but it is driven home when we see that we ourselves are only a few paychecks away from being in their position. A great many homeless people will tell you how easy it is for one thing to happen after another and you find yourself without housing and without help.

We are blessed to have that capacity to help these folks out in which ever ways they want our help. Not only does their day become easier, but we also get to act on that more natural response we all have to make sure we all have the means to survive before anything else

#WarmUpBoston #EncampmentSupport #MutualAid #FuckTheTentBan #HousingNotHandcuffs

Our comrades returned to supply the encampment this week with soup, snacks, cases of water, harm reduction supplies, clothing, and items essential for day to day living.

The residents have recovered somewhat but not completely from their forced removal last week. The stress, the tension, the exhaustion persists; everything is made harder when you have to start all over again and again. This is how the state responds to homelessness. Half hearted and half assed services or harassment under threat of handcuffs.

While we gather our forces to fight for housing for all, we will continue to support our neighbors directly. We are currently accepting donations for the following items!

• T-shirts
• Shorts
• Light pants
• New/unopened underwear
• New/unused socks

To support our work, please consider a small monthly donation to one of the platforms found in the link in our bio. To take part in the fight for housing first and for all, feel free to DM us here!

#WarmUpBoston #EncampmentSupport #MutualAid #FuckTheTentBan #HousingNotHandcuffs