Author: Jordan Frias

  • Baker Administration Battles Opioid Epidemic With Funding and Legislation

    Baker Administration Battles Opioid Epidemic With Funding and Legislation

    Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently announced significant measures to provide recovery services and increase access to health care for those struggling with opioid addiction in the Bay State. Baker, a member of the Trump administration’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, is providing up to $30 million annually to expand residential recovery…

  • Family Counseling One Weapon For Fighting Opioid Scourge

    After declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency, many states, cities, towns and organizations are looking for ways to resolve it. Parenting Journey, a 35-year-old nonprofit organization based in Somerville, says the answer to the crisis is group therapy, particularly family therapy. Starting out as a group of clinicians and social workers in housing…

  • Boston Public Library to offer homeless outreach program

    A Pine Street Inn employee has been asked to take the lead on helping the homeless crowd that congregates in and around libraries across the city and has begun his role at the public library’s main branch in Copley. Bunch will help homeless patrons with any issues they may have, while others hired by the…

  • New Program Supports Landlords Who Rent to the Chronically Homeless in Boston

    Chronically homeless individuals and families known to the city will now have a shot at housing through the Department of Neighborhood Development’s newly launched Landlord Guarantee Program. The program, which began as a pilot in April, is meant to house 30 homeless individuals and 30 homeless families in the next two years by providing guarantees…

  • Food Pantry for Students Pops Up at Emerson College

    Add Emerson College to the growing list of Massachusetts schools that have a food pantry on campus as an option for students. Office of Student Success Director Chris Daly said the pantry was set up about two weeks ago, when classes began for students, and was created to help students who are struggling financially. Located…

  • Drop in food insecurity ‘not statistically significant’

    Recently published Census data shows a modest dip in the overall household poverty rate in 2016, yet the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) said that progress has been “too little and too slow.” “While progress is good, it merely underscores that poverty in this country remains too high, particularly harming children,” FRAC President Jim…

  • Denver Homelessness Organizer Avoids Jail Time, Still on Probation

    An advocate for the homeless who was subject to a trespassing and unauthorized camping violation in Denver won’t face jail time after appearing in court and facing a possible sentence of up to 30 days behind bars. Lawyers for Terese Howard, 31, an organizer with Denver Homeless Out Loud, an organization advocating for the dignity,…

  • Boston puts Advanced Property Management on notice in kickoff to Renters’ Week of Action

    Boston puts Advanced Property Management on notice in kickoff to Renters’ Week of Action

    All photos: Jordan Frias About 100 residents from the Boston area organized outside of Back Bay Station on Dartmouth Street on Saturday, September 16 to kickoff Renters’ Week of Action, which is being held in 45 cities nationwide. City Life/Vida Urbana organizers led chants against Advanced Property Management and urged the public to sign a…

  • Fresh Truck Brings Fresh Produce to Dorchester Neighborhood

    Fresh Truck Brings Fresh Produce to Dorchester Neighborhood

    Photos By Jordan Frias The Fresh Truck made a visit to the Codman Square Community Health Center in Dorchester on Thursday, August 17, to provide residents, workers and others in the neighborhood with fresh produce, free of charge. Reusable shopping bags were handed to the first 100 customers of the Fresh Truck, with $10 worth…

  • Cruz Companies Celebrates $300 Million Rehab with Elected Officials

    The recently completed renovations to 83 affordable units at the Wayne at Columbia development on Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan were celebrated by local and state officials on Wednesday, August 16. The development, rehabbed by Cruz Companies, the largest minority-owned construction and real estate development firm in the region, houses working families from Mattapan, Dorchester…