Special to the Gazette
A first-of-its-kind coalition of community-based organizations, led by Boston Medical Center (BMC), has earned provisional designation from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to redevelop the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Campus at Morton Street in Jamaica Plain, to be known as the Morton Street Campus. The coalition’s proposal would transform the existing hospital site into a comprehensive behavioral health and housing community, with the potential to offer up to 200 units of supportive housing for individuals, up to 205 units of supportive housing for families, behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services, and a wide range of supportive services, including job training and financial education. The proposed plan includes a 30% increase in green space with enhanced public access and new transit connections.
The BMC-led coalition includes six respected health and social service providers currently offering daily, distinct support services to thousands of community members: Bay Cove Human Services, BMC, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, Health Care Resource Centers, Victory Programs, and Pine Street Inn. Together, these organizations will partner to deliver a novel, community-inspired, integrated care model at Morton Street. To bring this innovative vision to fruition, BMC is also partnering with experienced supportive housing developers, owners and operators, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and The Community Builders, to build the infrastructure including supportive housing.
“The co-occurring crises of mental illness and addiction that often results in homelessness are taking a painful toll on our families and communities,” said Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Boston Medical Center Health System. “BMC is proud to be part of this unique, highly experienced coalition of providers, who all care deeply about our communities and have envisioned a new model to tackle this crisis through a fully integrated continuum of care. We applaud the Commonwealth for advancing a transformative vision for a behavioral health community that we believe will become a model for the nation.”
With provisional designation, BMC and the coalition of community providers will now work with the Healey Administration, City officials, neighbors and other community stakeholders to earn final approval for a new model of care on the 13-acre Morton Street parcel.
The Shattuck campus on Morton Street currently provides behavioral health services to thousands of patients and community members every year. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is transitioning its existing medical, acute-care services from the current hospital on Morton Street to a former hospital building in the South End of Boston. This transition provided an opportunity for the State to identify partners who have the expertise and commitment to pursue a new vision for the Morton Street Campus, where land use is designated for public health purposes.
The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance issued a Request for Proposals for the campus redevelopment in June 2022, following a thorough public process with a Community Advisory Board that established a Vision Plan for the campus. The Vision Plan calls for an integrated system of behavioral health services, including inpatient and outpatient care in mental health and substance use disorder, as well as new, permanent supportive housing.
“As a health system committed to reshaping how care is delivered and delivering solutions that empower communities to thrive, BMC sees this moment as an unprecedented opportunity to fully integrate a new model of care and provide new solutions to this crisis,” Bell said. “And while we are confident that our proposed model is community-inspired, data-driven and aligned with the current land use, we are eager to engage the community in the design and address opportunities for improvements.”
The Coalition is proposing:
• Up to 200 new units of supportive housing for individuals, managed by Pine Street Inn, and up to 205 new units of supportive housing for families, managed by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. Supportive housing provides residents with case management, job training, life skills, counseling, transportation, and other support services. Residents will be tenants who sign a lease and pay rent.
• Inpatient and outpatient clinical services, including primary care, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment in new clinical buildings that complement the surrounding park and its healing, natural environment.
• Emergency housing services, similar to those already provided on the site.
• Additional, accessible green space adjacent to the campus, for a total of more than seven dedicated acres of green space, and new pedestrian, bicycle and public transit connections.
The Coalition is committed to completing the following to advance the provisional designation and deliver a new model of care for people in our community who are at risk of crisis: thoughtful and regular community engagement; a State review of the finalized mix of behavioral health, housing, and support services; and an extensive City and public review throughout the permitting process.
The Coalition will also make informational materials available and will participate in community engagement opportunities as it advances plans with the State. The Coalition has presented a community-inspired proposal and is committed to achieving full approval to deliver a new model of care, critically needed in our community.
The Coalition partners:
Bay Cove Human Services
“Bay Cove has a long history of partnering with the people we serve – individuals and families facing complex combinations of behavioral health challenges – to deliver best-in-class services despite the limitations of the existing systems of care,” said Bay Cove CEO, Dr. Louis Josephson, “so we are proud and excited to be working with BMC and all of the organizations involved in this innovative project to help realize the potential of transforming the Shattuck site into a truly integrated behavioral health care campus.”
Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program
“We’re committed to providing equitable access to quality health care for the most vulnerable members of our community, so we’re thrilled to collaborate with BMC and the other coalition partners in this innovative model to provide much-needed support to an at-risk population,” said Stephanie Sullivan, CEO of Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. “Our planned collaboration for the Shattuck Hospital redevelopment includes clinical, behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment consultation and services, ensuring that individuals have access to integrated care that meets their unique needs.”
Health Care Resource Centers
“Health Care Resource Centers is honored to be a part of this project,” said Senior Vice President of Operations, Dan Greer, “and we look forward to working closely with the community to continue providing quality, effective outpatient substance use disorder treatment to the community around Morton Street.”
Pine Street Inn
“Pine Street Inn is honored to be part of this coalition, headed by BMC, which will provide much needed housing, support and community for the most vulnerable residents of Boston,” said Lyndia Downie, president and executive director, Pine Street Inn. “We look forward to working with these partners and the larger community to create a unique and sustainable campus for both individuals and families to thrive.”
Victory Programs
“Victory Programs is thrilled to be working in partnership with this Coalition to create an innovative and collaborative solution dedicated to the long term health and wellbeing of individuals facing complex needs,” said Executive Director Sarah Porter. “When we first learned of the relocation of the current Shattuck inpatient units, we never imagined such a creative, thoughtful and impactful solution. As we work diligently addressing the needs of those in immediate crisis, it is crucial to continue allocating resources along the continuum of recovery and stability to ensure a truly walkable path of healing for the most vulnerable members of the Commonwealth.”
The Community Builders
“Today’s announcement is an important first step to replace endless pavement with green space, trees and play areas that are open to the community, as we deliver comprehensive health and housing support for families and individuals,” said Andy Waxman, TCB New England vice president of real estate development. “Together with BMC, our Coalition is committed to a process of community collaboration that strengthens the neighborhood and the region.”
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
“We are delighted that this collaborative proposal includes family supportive housing,” said CEO Teronda Ellis, CEO of Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation. “Ending family homelessness today, and offering families the supports that will heal trauma, is an investment in the next generation and will save our state from future public health crises.”