HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS – [HN PHOTO NOTES & MULLINGS ON THE MATTER] – Barnstable Police responded to a report of two men sleeping in an enclosed vestibule between two train cars behind DJ’s Wings this afternoon – Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The individuals were arrested and were expected to face charges of Trespassing and Breaking & Entering in district court today, according to police sources.

Homelessness remains a persistent challenge in downtown Hyannis, with police frequently addressing related concerns. Officers are regularly dispatched to private properties to respond to reports of “unwanted” individuals, many of whom lack alternative places to go. As warmer weather continues to arrive, tents have already been observed in wooded areas south of Main Street, prompting police to address illegal campsites located just one to several blocks from Main Street shops and businesses.

Business owners often contact police daily to report issues involving homeless individuals. For example, at the time of this report, officers were responding to a call at the McDonald’s on North Street regarding an individual described as “unwanted.” Last summer, one officer likened the situation to a sad “game of whack-a-mole,” noting that the same individuals are often asked to move multiple times within a single shift, only to reappear at another location.

The challenges faced by Hyannis’s homeless population are compounded by high rates of substance abuse and mental health struggles, which can contribute to volatile situations. Tensions sometimes escalate, leading to disturbances and/or acts of serious violence. Police and community stakeholders continue to grapple with balancing public safety, property rights, and the complex needs of those experiencing homelessness. And these issues do not appear to be going away anytime soon… and many point the finger at our current state leadership.

Massachusetts continues to face a homelessness crisis amid the ongoing controversy of massive amounts of tax dollars being spent to shelter so-called “migrants.” According to online sources, Governor Maura Healey’s administration has allocated substantial funds – estimated to be over a $1 billion annually by some sources – to support migrant families under the state’s unique “right-to-shelter” law, which guarantees housing for certain qualifying “families.” Many of the homeless do not qualify under this law. The law only cares for “families” and pregnant woman, not single homeless individuals. Single homeless individuals have an extremely difficult existence on the Cape, now arguably made much worse by limited resources being shifted toward “migrants” from other countries.

In short, the many individuals attempting to survive on the streets of Hyannis appear to have been ignored by Massachusetts. Our own homeless citizens are frequently the victims of violence, exposure to the elements, and an overwhelming sense of depression. They are at risk! For example, suicides among the Cape’s homeless population are not unusual. Last week, a young homeless male hung himself in the wooded area along Route 28 in West Yarmouth, according to sources. And specific, up-to-date statistics on suicide rates for homeless individuals in general in Massachusetts are limited, to say the least. Recent comprehensive data focusing exclusively on the single homeless individuals here on the Cape is not reported at all according to HN’s recent efforts to find such information online. However, there are available older studies that provide some insight. For example, a 2011 study from the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (covering 2003–2008) found that suicide was a significant cause of death among homeless adults in Boston, according to online sources. Whether or not there is a high or higher rate of suicide here on the Cape among homeless or otherwise downtrodden individuals compared to the rest of Massachusetts is unclear due to a lack of specific public data. (But based on anecdotal insights from monitoring emergency frequencies across Cape Cod since 2007, HN strongly suspects there is very likely a higher rate here on the Cape per capita, compared to the rest of the state… but there are not available public studies so we may never know just how bad it is here) Bottom line, precise data on suicide rates (as just one example of the many dangers of being homeless) among homeless individuals on Cape Cod is not readily available from any public sources…

… and like our neglected or abandoned road projects (think about that ongoing mess at Route 28 and Yarmouth Road)… and so many other things that are poorly maintained and overlooked in this state because of diminishing, mismanaged funds, the downtrodden and homeless situation here does not appear to be improving at all.

It’s a sad, ongoing “game of whack-a-mole,” spinning wheels, and twisted government priorities from the way I see it here on the streets…

… and I’m just a lone photojournalist, but one who has been plugged into all this local dysfunction for decades… so, what the hell do I know? Probably not very much… but I do know one thing for certain in terms of taking care of myself and my loved ones first… and that is if I’m ever at risk of digging myself deeper and deeper into a financial hole by taking on things I shouldn’t be taking on, the first thing I’ve always known to do is ‘stop digging!’

So, for what it’s worth, here’s my advice, “Hey Massachusetts, focus on your own citizens first and stop digging!”

P.S. – Today’s Hytown Vignette is brought to you by Steely Dan… [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]

* The initial details contained in the above report are based on radio transmissions and information from police sources. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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