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

Every summer we get a big dip in the amount of donations that come in. In order to keep up with the assortment of supplies we offer our unhoused neighbors for their survival (ESPECIALLY through this brutal heat wave), our friends at #SpeakeasyPrintshop have yet again come through for us to offer this print-to-order fundraiser which we will use the funds from to make sure folks are hydrated, kept cool, and have protection from the elements for the summer months. We also want to give a HUGE thank you to all our new donors in the last few days, because of your generosity we will be able to buy 4 new tents for the encampment residents and were able to increase our ice budget.

These t-shirts were made with union labor and the design was created in-house by one of our incredible volunteers. This colorway will be a ONE TIME PRINT and this presale will only be up for the next TWO WEEKS.

Sweeps are violence! During the latest sweep at the encampment earlier this week, residents were given no notice, forced to move in the extreme heat, and lost a lot of what they use for shelter. If a volunteer had not just happened to be driving by at the right time, we would not have even been able to assist and witness.

Get your “Sweeps are Violence” t-shirt now to show your solidarity with the unhoused community in the Boston area. Link to purchase on our Linktree in our bio.

https://www.speakeasyprintshop.com/warm-up-boston/sweepsareviolence

#WarmUpBoston #ServeThePeople #MutualAid #SurvivalProgram #Fundraiser #SweepsAreViolence

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

Every summer we get a big dip in the amount of donations that come in. In order to keep up with the assortment of supplies we offer our unhoused neighbors for their survival (ESPECIALLY through this brutal heat wave), our friends at @speakeasy_printshop have yet again come through for us to offer this print-to-order fundraiser which we will use the funds from to make sure folks are hydrated, kept cool, and have protection from the elements for the summer months. We also want to give a HUGE thank you to all our new donors in the last few days, because of your generosity we will be able to buy 4 new tents for the encampment residents and were able to increase our ice budget.

These t-shirts were made with union labor and the design was created in-house by one of our incredible volunteers. This colorway will be a ONE TIME PRINT and this presale will only be up for the next TWO WEEKS.

Sweeps are violence! During the latest sweep at the encampment earlier this week, residents were given no notice, forced to move in the extreme heat, and lost a lot of what they use for shelter. If a volunteer had not just happened to be driving by at the right time, we would not have even been able to assist and witness.

Get your “Sweeps are Violence” t-shirt now to show your solidarity with the unhoused community in the Boston area. Link to purchase on our Linktree in our bio.

#WarmUpBoston #SpeakeasyPrintshop #ServeThePeople #MutualAid #SurvivalProgram #Fundraiser #SweepsAreViolence

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