Mamdani discusses the homeless camp close to the Intrepid Museum in Manhattan

Growing Homeless Encampment Near Intrepid Museum

Mayor Zoran Mamdani didn’t provide many details on Monday regarding the expanding homeless encampment near the Intrepid Museum, even as complaints from New York City residents continue to rise.

The encampment stretches roughly 12 blocks along Manhattan’s West Side, from 34th Street to 46th Street at 11th Avenue. It’s described by residents as a site filled with tents, furniture, used needles, and items believed to be stolen, along with reports of open drug use and prostitution.

When asked about this issue, especially with the FIFA World Cup attracting visitors, Mamdani responded that the city “will look into the details.”

According to Mamdani, city regulations dictate that the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) can only dismantle encampments after engaging in outreach for seven consecutive days from the initial notification. He explained, “The aim of this outreach is to build trust and ensure we can connect people to necessary services, whether that’s healthcare or housing assistance. By the seventh day after notification, the encampment will be cleared.”

He further emphasized, “Our focus is on connecting New Yorkers to shelters and establishing a pathway to stable housing—it’s not just about moving people around.”

Reports indicate that the encampment has been expanding for several weeks. Nearby workers have observed a steady rise in its population. “These people have been here forever,” noted one employee at the Intrepid Museum.

The superintendent of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center remarked that despite ongoing efforts to control the camp, it continues to grow. “It’s odd,” one worker commented. “Officers and sanitation workers clean one area, but they return the next day, and it’s like they’re scattered all over.”

Another worker reflected, “We cleared them out, but now they’re back. There are definitely more here now than a month ago.” City records show that there have been 48 complaints about homelessness in the impacted West Side areas this year, including 30 just in the last month.