Boston City Councilor John FitzGerald has filed a hearing order calling for the creation of a regional fund to tackle the ongoing substance abuse and mental health crisis at Mass & Cass, shifting the financial burden from Boston alone to surrounding municipalities that benefit from the city's services.

FitzGerald, who chairs the city council's public health committee, filed the order on July 7th for a "Regional Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Fund" that would require Boston and neighboring cities and towns to contribute proportionally to a shared pool supporting addiction recovery, housing, and public health infrastructure.

"This isn't just a Boston crisis—it's a regional one," FitzGerald said in a statement. "Many of the individuals at Mass & Cass aren't from Boston, yet it's Boston taxpayers who are bearing the full financial burden. That's not sustainable, it's not fair, and it's not working."

The proposed fund would be structured similarly to existing regional collaborations like MBTA assessments, with contributions based on population, need, and usage of Boston-based services. Money would go toward expanding housing options, mobile outreach teams, harm-reduction services, and long-term recovery programs.

Data from the Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Medical Center shows that a substantial percentage of people receiving services around Mass & Cass come from municipalities outside Boston, according to the hearing order.

The hearing would bring together city officials, public health leaders, municipal representatives, and regional planning partners to design the fund's structure and scope. Representatives from the Boston Public Health Commission, Mayor's Coordinated Response Team, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and Massachusetts Municipal Association would be invited to testify.

The order was filed in City Council on July 9th.