South End stakeholders’ proposal for a multilayered recovery campus now hinges on whether the MBTA is willing to hand over Widett Circle, a prospect that might not be as far-fetched as it initially seems.

Announced in an August 18 event, the proposed Recover Boston campus would use Widett Circle, recently acquired by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), to operate 150 small pallet homes there with a budget of around $9 million annually.

The proposal would last for three or four years, intended to meet mid-term housing needs while large-scale treatment facilities at the Shattuck Hospital and Long Island are under construction.

The proposal would also help serve demographics that often slip through the cracks of existing programs, couples that can’t go into gender-segregated shelters, those with mental health issues that preclude existing group shelter environments.

The largest obstacle is likely to be acquiring the land itself. It was purchased by the MBTA in April as a lynchpin for broader commuter rail improvements.

Fox himself admits that the state isn’t chomping at the bit to sell such a recently acquired asset, which MBTA publications describe as “critical” for layover efficiency and would eliminate over 50,000 miles of superfluous travel annually, along with the expense and labor those miles incur.

He instead emphasized that the campus is intended to be temporary, bridging the gap between today’s floundering recovery programs and the large-scale rehab on the horizon at Long Island and the Shattuck Hospital campus.

With such a recently bought property, the MBTA is likely years away from finishing design and funding construction of its planned facilities. Lending the property to Recover Boston to use while it goes through the planning and design process for its ultimate fate as a commuter rail functionary is likely more palatable than outright sale.

“We’re really hoping that the governor’s office, together with the city and MBTA, see that this concept for addressing the crisis is the right solution. We already know it’s a temporary fix, it’s not a long-term commitment on the part of the MBTA. Whether it’s done on a lease basis or with funding from the state or some combination, we think it’s a great opportunity,” said Fox.

The mayor’s office is taking a cautious position.

Tania Del Rio, the coordinator of the city’s response to the homelessness and drug trafficking crisis, responded favorably to the idea at an August 22 public meeting but said they’d wait and see whether the MBTA is willing to play ball. “My team and I have been following it, because it does hinge on MBTA land and other non-city actors to participate. We’re monitoring and following it, and we thank you for participating in that way. I do appreciate the solution-based conversation,” she said. MBTA spokespersons deferred comment to the governor’s office, which could give some hope to those hoping this will wind up as a political decision rather than a financial one.

"Our administration is open to hearing from stakeholders about potential pathways to connect those suffering from substance use disorder with treatment and shelter,” said Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for the governor. The MBTA and governor’s office declined to comment further on their disposition toward selling the property, or speculate as to how much money they would charge if they do.