World AIDS Day at the Cyclorama in Boston, Mayor Wu distributes Thanksgiving Dinners to seniors and community members at La Villa de la Alegria, United Way Food Distribution Day in Dorchester, Annual Tree Lighting Festival in Roslindale, Pharmacy closures impact on the Boston neighborhoods, interview with Danielle Ferrier about Heading Home non-profit ending homelessness in Boston.
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Boston Neighborhood Network News
(upbeat music) - Good evening, Boston. Welcome to BNN News. I'm Natalie Kanler. Thanks for tuning in. Generations of individuals impacted by the devastation of HIV gathered in Boston to spread awareness and honor those we've lost at World AIDS Day. (soft music) - Expressions of grief and mourning for those taken from us by AIDS were very much on display at World AIDS Day at the Cyclorama in Boston. - On this day, December the 1st, remember those who have, we have lost in this community from this dreaded disease. We want to celebrate their lives, their home going. We want to celebrate their families and we want to remember them in ways that help us to lift this story to the consciousness of all in our community. - For me, this event means attention, means care, it means healing, but it also means intersectionality because we're here to dance for this cause which also brings awareness to other causes which also brings communities together in healing and expression. - Studies show that although transmission rates have decreased significantly since the HIV crisis, the disease still negatively impacts brown and black people at a notably higher rate than white people. - And what a lot of people don't realize of course is that there's treatment if you have access to treatment today, but the health wealth equity gap continues to impact those populations that are most affected and most impacted by HIV today. - The developments that have been made in the AIDS-HIV crisis have been tremendous, but we're still just losing way too many people to this disease and more people need to understand that it's still relevant and still very important. - Advocates and activists have emphasized the importance of reducing stigma around the discussion of HIV and treatment. - A lot of people tend to think we are over the hump when it comes to transmission of HIV because people will live in better lives and doing better and living longer. But the fact that transmission is attacking kids 13 to 35, it really makes you wonder what can we do much, much better in today's society. - In our office, we know that HIV is not something that is going away and it's important to end stigma and discrimination against folks living with and at risk of HIV. Sometimes people think that HIV is something that is of the past when in reality there are new transmissions every single day. - Mayor Wu joined local partners at Villa de la Légra in West Roxbury to distribute Thanksgiving dinner to residents as part of the city of Boston's efforts to distribute 3,000 turkeys to 80 partner organizations this holiday season. - It was a high spirited Thanksgiving celebration at the Villa de la Légra Senior Housing in West Roxbury as the residents were out on dance floor in celebratory mood. Mayor Wu and her chief officers stopped by to provide hot, nutritious thanksgiving turkey dinners to all attendees. But while this group of seniors never has to worry about having enough food, the food insecurity of many others in the Commonwealth was on the minds of the mayor and her staff. - We've been able to round up and are about to distribute more than 3,000 turkeys across the city of Austin where the 50,000 pounds of food in addition to our residents. And we know that this is a year-round challenge but especially during the Thanksgiving season and during the holidays, everyone deserves to have a meal that is nourishing, that is special and that can serve the whole families. - It's important that people have enough to eat every day, not just on Thanksgiving, but we need to think about a year round. People of all ages, but especially older adults, we want to make sure that people not only have enough food to eat, but that they also can pay for their housing, that they can heat their homes, that they can pay for their medications, that they can meet their basic needs and have enough to live with dignity in the city of Boston. - It is important that no person goes to bed with an MC stomach and making sure that we have access to our food pantries, access to food options, whether that's SNAP benefits or food access to our community kitchens. It's important that no one goes to bed hungry. - And during this holiday season, it was stressed that all those experiencing food insecurity, to get the food and resources that they need to be well-fed and nourished throughout the year. - Last week, hundreds lined up in Dorchester receive a helping hand during the holiday season at the United Way Food Distribution Day. - In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, many Bostonians were worried about what to put on the table, but United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Catholic Charities Boston provided more than enough food for everyone. - We know that there are one in four families that are facing food insecurity, and so where we can focus on events like a distribution day, work with our partners to distribute 10,000 bags of food. Also, what we know is that that's for one moment in time and that food insecurity is not a seasonal event. - Although it's called the season of giving, the holidays aren't the only time where Bostonians are food insecure. And these organizations and volunteers work year round to support those who need food assistance. - For many people thought that food insecurity was something that happened during the pandemic. And now, suddenly better, it's not. The price of everything has gone up so sharply that many families are struggling to make sure that their families have something healthy to eat every night for dinner. So we step in here at Catholic Charities, we run a food pantry in Dorchester, and we try to make sure families have access to the food they need. - It's a lot of people struggling, especially with the downward turn of the economy right now. You know, it's grocery's way more expensive, and so what we're doing out here is really helping out the community, is really helping out, really giving aid to those who can't afford to spend the extra dollar on the chicken that they had to get from the grocery store. - In the face of rising costs, Boston has been determined to combat these challenges by providing food assistance to families throughout the city. - We're trying to work on that every single day for Boston to be a home for everyone, but in times of need, it's amazing to see how many volunteers come together and how people really will step up to make sure that their neighbors and their friends and family can have what they deserve from. - People going to bed hungry, especially children, our seniors and persons disabilities. What's important is we come together, show that compassion that we have always had in treating each other with respect, making sure that the most vulnerable in our society have access to food, and food access is a major challenge in our city. - In the past five years, grocery prices have increased by 25%, according to the FTC. On Saturday, Rosalindale was alive with holiday cheer and neighborhood camaraderie at the annual Tree Lighting Festival. (upbeat music) Last Saturday, the hundreds that gathered on a crisp fall afternoon for the Rosalindale Tree Lighting were warned by the festive holiday dance performances of the city ballet of Boston. - I feel blessed every day to be in a city where people really come together and take care of each other. I know there's a lot happening in everyone's lives, and it's not the easiest of times, so we have a lot of work to do around housing and education and jobs and keeping people safe, so I'm hoping that we will continue to come together as a city and find ways to be the example that so many of us need of what's possible in the world. - The event, filled with music, dancing, and twinkling lights, was a reminder that through events like these, we strengthen our community bonds to create a safer and more unified Boston. - Events like this are very important for the community, to bring people, residents, families together, and a lot of times we don't know who our neighbors are, who lives in our neighborhood, and events like this really help for you to get to know someone, get to reunite the people that you may not have connected with in a while, and it really also contributes to public safety. The more people that you know in your neighborhood, the better the neighborhood knows each other, and it's residents, the more safe, the more fun we can be. - This is the time for us to be together, to support all local businesses, but the holidays are a reminder for us to look out for each other, to be each other's keeper as neighbors, and to make sure that we have everything that we need. - The event, which also celebrated Small Business Saturday and Rossendale, emphasized how important local businesses and business owners are to our individual communities. - So it's wonderful to be out here on Small Business Saturday and our tree lighting. This is an opportunity for everyone to come together, and really remind ourselves how wonderful our Small Business community is, and how that community brings people together, and really helps us develop as a neighborhood, and cross cultural and economic lines, and really celebrate the wonderful Southwest Boston area we have here together. - And to add to the ambiance of the season, Jolly Old St. Nick and Mrs. Claus gave each child a special moment. And with neighbor-gritting neighbor, a feeling of community bonded was felt throughout Adam Square Village, and the feeling of hope was in the air. - And I think things that allow us to come together as a community, especially for something that we're all celebrating and can get behind, it's just a great way to really feel like we're more in unison than we are different. - I'm just hoping that people would, that we could have more peace, we could be more equitable, and then realize that we're all the same people, regardless of race, background, sexual orientation, and we could find a way to continue to love each other and be part of a sense of belonging. I think that's really important as well. - And when the giant Rosalindale Christmas tree finally lit up the evening, a soothing sense of peace and tranquility casts its light over this little village of Rosalindale, a light that we are all so longing for. (dramatic music) - Since 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health says that 27 pharmacies have closed in Boston. BNNs Kayla Sharpe spoke with Roxbury residents and professionals to understand how pharmacy closures impact healthcare access in their communities. - This Walgreens is the only major pharmacy chain in almost two miles. Roxbury residents without vehicles say that this pharmacy is the most convenient option, despite how long it might take to arrive by public transportation. - It still take 10 minutes by walking when I get off Jackson Square. It's only eight minutes from Forest Hill to Jackson Square. So I would say 20 to 30 minutes to come over here and then 20 to 30 minutes to go home. - One healthcare provider says after the fourth Walgreens closure on Warren Street in January, she was worried for her patients. - Then I realized that the elderly and young children who were dependent on inhalers or in a tough position. - As closures continue, community centers are opening up their own pharmacies to help the neighborhoods of both Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. The Dimmick Center is one of these providing better patient care by offering interpretation services and access to public transit. - The Pharmacy Manager, Amy Fan, says it is an honor to serve such a diverse community. - It's really rewarding to be able to help those who usually have difficulty accessing like patient care and just even staying healthy. - The City of Boston and the Urban League of Massachusetts have started a holistic health access initiative to assist Boston's older residents with LifRide's medical appointments, pharmacies and community centers like these to promote healthy lifestyles. This is Kayla Sharp reporting for BNN. - Heading Home is an organization whose mission is to end homelessness in Greater Boston by providing a supported pathway to self-sufficiency that begins with the home, together with critical services such as life skills, financial literacy and job training. Daniel Ferrier is the chief executive officer of Heading Home and has dedicated her 25 year career to human services and uplifting families and individuals. With experience of the Department of Children and Families and a strong passion for creating solutions to the problem of affordable housing, she has been instrumental with her work at Heading Home. She joined us in studio to discuss the work that Heading Home does and how we can move forward into a world where everyone can be housed. Enjoy the interview. - Heading Home is a 50 year old nonprofit who works to shelter families and individuals and move them into permanent support housing. So our most deeply affordable housing and then to help make sure people stay housed. And we do that both through housing and also through supportive services, making sure that any other needs that folks have that are either barriers to leave shelter or to stay housed that we're helping address and support them in figuring out what they need so they can stay stably housed. - Absolutely, and what are some of these resources that you help families and individuals with? - Great question, so our services are what we call case management services. And what that means is we have a point person, a staff person assigned to each family or individual and they're working with them to assess what they need. So it's almost like thinking about a primary care physician model where you have a point person who then says, "Okay, what would be helpful? "What do you need to be stably housed? "What do you need for employment? "What do you need for education? "And then who are the specialists "that we kind of refer folks to "to help with the additional support?" So if it's childcare, it's figuring out who the childcare centers are. If it's employment, figuring out, does the person have the credential or degree they might need for the work they want or how do we work with them to access that? - Right, and a lot of people, especially in these positions, they don't even know that they have the option to reach out and go for something, like get a, start their career or get their kid into a really good school. And as you said before, you guys are celebrating 50 years. What's some of the things that stand out? I know you joined, I believe, in 2017. What are some of the things that stand out with your experience with having home? - So I've been there for seven years, to your point, since 2017. And in the seven years since I've been there, I think we'd had tremendous growth before I came in. When I started, we were approximately 15 million, serving a little under 2,000 people a year. And what I say is non-profits jobs, ideally, are to put themselves out of business. And unfortunately, as folks have heard about, I'm sure, our shelters and housing are in crisis. And so, unfortunately, our agency has grown, which is the opposite direction that ideally we want. But I think the biggest transformational pieces for us, at least in the last seven years, are really the ability to step into crisis and be able to help. The city and the governor administration help respond to an increased growth, especially for our families who need a shelter. And to be able to stand up different options to expand our capacity. - Absolutely, and, you know, as you said, we're in a shelter crisis. The past year, there's been non-stop news about people coming and not having anywhere to sleep, people who are from Massachusetts, not having anywhere to sleep. What are you guys doing to expand access and to make affordable housing an option? Or at least somewhere to sleep in an option? - So, you know, I would say our shelter and housing system, when I came in, was already at maximum capacity. And what we've seen with the ongoing need of our Massachusetts families and some newly arriving families to Massachusetts is pushing the capacity over, in terms of over the limit of what the system could do before. I think what we've done in response is we've opened additional units where we had buildings and we could add some space. We took, we actually run the site in Norfolk, Mass, which is a site that was, is a temporary respite center. So, shorter stay, but where families can go to make sure we get them out of the cold and provide them some kind of basic services and then work to get them housed. And so, we've really kind of pushed to kind of add those services and are very fortunate we could do that. And, you know, both, I think agencies that are non-profits, sometimes those are hard jumps, but luckily our team and our financial ability of our non-profit, we were able to step in and be supportive those ways. So, the other thing that heading home works to do in addition to shelter is works to add capacity for permanent units. So, we look to work with our city and state officials, folks that have our landlords to actually create new units. And we do that in a whole bunch of new ways, but really we're focused in our agency, in our 50th year, is updating our strategic plan. And one of the two big questions that have asked us to look at in our strategic plan and our board is how we ensure we're increasing units in the city and in the state, because we know we need more affordable units. And so, that is as much a priority, if not more, as expanding capacity to shelter, because the way to get folks out of shelter is to find permanent affordable housing. So, we work in a whole bunch of different ways to try to add capacity in there as well. - Absolutely. And you mentioned a little bit about some of the resources you have. You know, career coaching, financial education. How did these impact families and can uplift them? - So, great question. You know, career coaching and financial literacy are programs that are critical programs. So, some of us talk about, if you didn't grow up in a family that had a lot of money, you didn't hear about financial literacy or stocks and bonds or interest rates and that those are things that aren't built into the current curriculum of our school department. So, how do kids learn money? How do they learn how to manage money? And that ties in its own way, in an overlapping way to career coaching. What are careers that give folks an affordable living wage, right, and how that sets the stage for can you pay your rent or not, right, as a base? So, if you think about one of the biggest parts of your budget, it's housing, right. We say up to 30% of your salary can go to housing and after that, the percentage is too high. And we know that in our state, we have folks, a lot of folks who are past 30%, right, in their income to cover their housing. And so, that means the other basics that they need to pay for are getting squeezed or might not be possible. - Right. And what changes, you know, whether it be governmental or just us Bostonians caring for each other, what changes need to happen to, you know, lower the homelessness rate and get people housed. - So, I think that there, sometimes one, it's actually how we think about the problem, right, and how we frame the problem and how we think about then the solutions and understanding the core drivers into homelessness. And so, I think there are discussions that many of us have who do this work every day about why is it people become homeless? And there's lots of different reasons, right. And so, understanding those reasons helps understand it, then what are the different types of solutions that one needs at the, what I call the exit on the back end of a system. And so, I think one of the things that I push for on behalf of heading home is as we're thinking about a stronger housing system, in more ways that people can exit shelter or, hopefully, not even enter shelter, that you have a system that can have multiple exit strategies based on the needs that different people have, whether it's individuals or families, that good systems can respond within a range of different needs. And I think for a long time, we've had systems that often, in the housing sector, what I've seen, and I have a bias, I was a trauma therapist for a long time, so I lived in a world of gray all the time. This system is very literal at times, right. It looks at bricks and mortar solely, and although that's critical in a large piece of the solution, it's not the only solution, right. It's not the only pieces of the puzzle, the puzzle is not just one piece. And so, it's really thinking through what are the different ways that we think about housing. If we say just focus on housing, we should fix zoning. We should fix what it takes. We're actually building a building in Dorchester, by the time we complete it the next month or two, it will have been seven years since we started that project. So seven years to put 20 new units of deeply affordable housing on for families, means that mathematically, solely mathematically, we can never build out of this problem in as that way as the only way. And so thinking through modular, what does housing look like for different shared housing, right, like I think we really have to stretch and think about how a city and a state who is so behind in building digs itself out and in a traditional build will not solely get us there. - Thank you for watching Boston. That's our broadcast for tonight. As a reminder, you can stream or watch the news on demand@vnnmedia.org. Each episode will be re-broadcast at 9.30pm and 11pm on Xfinity channel nine, a sound channel 15 and files channel 2161, and make sure to check out our BNN HD Xfinity channel 1072. You can also hear us on the radio's Fridays at 7.30 and 9pm and Monday to Thursday at 9pm. And now you can watch BNN news on the go with the cable cast app. For BNN news, I'm Natalie Candler.