Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

Dear Billy,

I am writing this as a considered resident of Somerville. I would like to remain anonymous regarding my concerns.

Originally when I heard that there was going to be a Warming Shelter on Prescott St at the Cummings Elementary School, I was concerned. I didn’t think it was the best place for one because of the residential neighborhood and all the kids walking to the high school, but I never voiced my concerns. Since it has opened, the warming shelter has become a nightmare.

I have discovered that the Homeless Coalition is giving parking passes to homeless people to park on street. Because of that there has been an average of 7-10 extra cars parked on the street every day. No one is supposed to hang out when the shelter is closed, but many people are right outside all day, around the school and playground area. One student while walking to school was harassed, prompting the police to be called. I have seen mothers with kids not letting their kids play on the playground because there are multiple people in the playground area and clothes strewn about everywhere.

Homeless Coalition giving parking passes to homeless people to park on street.

No security.

Shelter opens at 5pm & closes at 8am. Homeless people hanging out ALL DAY, around the school & playground area.

Trash, clothes, alcohol bottles, cigarettes left at warming shelter entrance & playground area.

Smoking weed & drinking in playground & warming shelter entrance.

Fire, police & ambulance have been to the Cummings Elementary school; In 3 months over 12 times.

Homeless harassing kids while they are walking to the high school.

Allowing people with large aggressive dogs into warming shelter. Dogs have muzzles & bark a lot.

People are smoking cigarettes outside the warming shelter entrance.

I have seen mothers with kids not letting their kids play in the playground because there are homeless people in playground area, clothes everywhere.

Below please see my documented notes. I also have pictures & videos of this nonsense.

12/18/2024 7 people hanging out in front of warming shelter entrance 7:15am
12/30/2024 police to Cummings Elementary School 4:15am
12/30/2024 white small truck removing waste from playground area with hoses 8:55am
1/1/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance to Cummings Elementary School 12:47am
1/2/2025 white large waste truck drives into playground area, removing waste from trailer bathroom in playground area 8:34am
1/4/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance to Cummings Elementary School 6:10pm
1/6/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance to Cummings Elementary School 9:30pm
1/6/2025 1 homeless mail organizing his clothes, playground area 9:19am
1/7/2025 bags of clothes left in playground area 10:35am
1/8/2025 bloody rags on street in front of warming shelter entrance 9:10am
1/8/2025 smoking cigarettes warming shelter entrance area 6:19pm
1/17/2025 city of Somerville employee cleaning street 9:03am
1/20/2025 1 homeless person walking to shelter with a Louis Vuitton purse 4:23pm
1/21/2025 2 homeless people hanging out warming shelter entrance area, dropped off in an uber11:56am
1/30/2025 4 homeless people hanging out in playground area 9:08am
1/31/2025 3 people hanging out in the playground area with luggage
1/31/2025 homeless person driving to the shelter white Nissan 4:23pm
2/4/2025 Luggage left at the playground area unoccupied 9:45am
2/5/2025 8 people & 2 dogs gathered in playground with luggage 8:35am
2/15/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance to Cummings Elementary School 7:44pm
2/15/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance to Cummings Elementary School 9:27pm
2/20/2025 random trash can filled with trash left on street in front of warming shelter on Prescott St 12:10pm
2/20/2025 drying clothes on fence outside warming shelter entrance 12:10pm
2/22/2025 trash in front of warming shelter entrance 8:18am
2/22/2025 smoking weed & drinking 2:27pm
2/24/2025 1 homeless mail organizing his clothes, playground area 8:53am
2/26/2025 fire truck, police & ambulance 5:50pm
3/11/2025 Smoking weed & drinking at entrance to warming shelter
3/11/2025 fire truck & police to Cummings Elementary School 7:36AM
3/16/2025 fire truck & police to Cummings Elementary School 6:52AM
3/16/2025 alcohol bottles large & small along street, bushes in the playground area, storm drains on the school premise 9:37am
3/16/2025 cigarette butts everywhere, hundreds of them; warming shelter entrance, bushes & playground area 9:37am
3/17/2025 debris/trash on path from Prescott St to School St 10:01am
3/18/2025 3 people smoking weed 4:22pm
3/25/2025 people drinking alcohol & smoking weed 3:40pm
3/25/2025 Security, I think, sitting right in front of people drinking & smoking weed. sits in a dark color TESLA license plate VE25AS
3/25/2025 luggage left in playground unoccupied 9:12am
3/27/2025 3 people smoking weed 1:41pm

PLEASE HELP CONCERNED RESIDENT!