Mayor Zohran Mamdani in NYC continues the removal of homeless camps.

New York City to Resume Clearing Homeless Camps

Mayor Zoran Mamdani announced on Wednesday that New York City will restart the removal of homeless camps after a pause in the policy that lasted several weeks.

The clearing initiative was put on hold in January, with Mamdani stating it wasn’t effective in securing housing for homeless individuals. Now, the new strategy will be led by the Department of Homeless Services instead of the police, incorporating ongoing outreach to improve outcomes. “We reach out to individuals to connect them with shelters and services, aiming to keep them warm and safe indoors. I believe this approach will lead to better results, especially since there hasn’t been a strong push for these policies in the past,” he mentioned during a news conference unrelated to the topic.

Before taking office in December, Mamdani was critical of former Mayor Eric Adams’ strategies for managing homeless camps, and he officially suspended Adams’ policies on January 5.

Mamdani reiterated his view that the previous administration’s strategies were a “failure.” He stated, “My team and I have decided to put the previous policies on hold while we develop our own strategies that will yield better results for our city.”

The revised approach involves notifying individuals about cleaning operations. Outreach workers will visit encampments daily for a week to provide information on social services. On the final day, sanitation workers will clear out the area, hoping to encourage people to relocate.

Mamdani believes continuous outreach can help engage homeless individuals, even if their initial reaction is skepticism. He noted, “Given their past experiences with the shelter system, the first response may be alarm. However, as they hear more, they could gradually show interest in the offered services and support programs.”

David Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, expressed that his organization was caught off guard by Mamdani’s announcement. He labeled it a “political response” that likely won’t significantly help the homeless community. Giffen raised concerns that the new plan may damage the trust between city workers and unsheltered residents, potentially leading to tragic outcomes during severe weather. “If a city employee comes and removes all your belongings, you may not trust that person when they return to offer shelter,” he said.

At least 19 people have died outside in the city due to the prolonged cold, heightening worries about how the city is addressing this crisis. The mayor’s office insists there’s no evidence that those who died were living in encampments and is encouraging the homeless to seek shelter in new facilities or warming centers.