Who we are
Mass Ave / Albany Allies is a group of residents and stakeholders in the South End and adjoining areas who have come together in support of neighborhood interests and reality-based, constructive solutions to the challenges of Mass and Cass. We seek to understand and help address the impacts and causes of the addiction crisis as it exists here in the neighborhood, and beyond.
We gather and share factual information about relevant issues, proposals and events with the community and elected officials and we advocate via neighborhood organizing, meetings with our elected and public officials and work with other stakeholders.
We are not professionals in the field and don't profess to be experts, but are fortunate to have learned about these issues from those who are knowledgable and experienced, particularly via participation in the South End Forum’s ongoing Working Group on Homelessness, Addiction and Recovery and the former “Mass & Cass Task Force” convened by the City of Boston from 2019 through 2021. We believe everyone who does the work has valuable insights we as engaged citizens need to hear and consider, whether clinicians, researchers, police, outreach workers, shelter operators, treatment providers, EMS, those with lived experience of addiction and recovery and so many more. And we know that, as discouraging and frustrating as the situation can seem, it’s not because the City and service providers are not trying or don’t care—because they are and they do, and there are successes and many people’s lives are changed thanks to them.
Mass Ave / Albany Allies was founded in September 2023 by South End residents David Stone and Steve Fox. Our name reflects the two principal streets of the South End that have seen the heaviest impacts from the addiction crisis and over-concentration of public drug use, untreated mental illness, shelters and services in the “Mass and Cass” area.
Our community letter in opposition to Mayor Wu’s plan to open a new shelter and shift services into the South End has won the support of over 220 South End neighbors.