Turn closed school buildings into temporary family housing
The resident asks the City to convert one closed or merged BPS building per region into temporary housing for homeless families so students avoid long commutes to distant shelters.
English title and summary written with AI from the resident's text.
The resident's idea, as submitted
The idea
BPS is closing/merging several schools each year. Instead of selling these buildings to developers take 1 building in each region and turn it into temporary housing for families and children of that region.
Who it helps and why
I have had students placed in shelters as far away as Lynn. Boston should use these buildings to reinvest in BPS students. If the City provides temporary housing for BPS students facing homelessness, these students would have easier access to their education if they didn't have to travel. We know that poverty and homelessness disproportionally affect marginalized communities.
Details
- Cycle
- 2025–26
- Submitted
- August 7, 2025
- Neighborhood
- City-wide
- Portal category
- Community
- How it was submitted
- Library, BCYF or other site
- Submitted at
- West Roxbury Library Branch
- Submission language
- English
Themes grouped with AI from resident idea text.
The same need in other cycles
City-wide ideas in Homelessness & shelter from the other cycles, up to 3 from each.
2026–27 (26 matching)
- Use public buildings as overnight sheltersThe resident asks the City to use public buildings to provide overnight shelter for unhoused people so they can better participate in the community.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Portable home village for people experiencing homelessnessBuy about 1,000 portable homes to form a small village for homeless residents, with social workers on hand to help them regain independence.2026–27City-wide
- Heating and cooling centers for those without A/C or heatResident asks for heating and cooling centers for people lacking A/C or heat, or installing heating and cooling systems in buildings that lack them.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
2024–25 (39 matching)
- Long-term shelter with stipends for ages 16-28Resident asks for shelters serving a wider age range of 16 to 28 and long-term stays with a monthly stipend, noting young adults over 23 get little help.2024–25City-wide
- Address street homelessness at Mass Ave and Melnea CassResident is concerned about people experiencing homelessness, drug use and trash near Mass Ave and Melnea Cass Blvd and says the area feels unsafe and unsightly.2024–25City-wide
- Support shelters, housing and community buildingsResident asks the City to support shelters, housing and local community buildings.2024–25City-wide