OAKLAND, California — Mayor Barbara Lee is signaling a shift in Oakland’s approach to homelessness, seeking to reduce large-scale encampment sweeps while focusing more on sanitation and services, even as some City Council members push for a tougher crackdown.
Lee and interim homelessness chief Sasha Hauswald said the city plans to pivot toward improving cleanliness around encampments and limiting forced removals when no shelter is available. The mayor is exploring programs that could pay unhoused residents to collect litter, drawing inspiration from efforts in Portland.
The proposed shift comes despite a rise in camp closures since Lee took office in May 2025. Data show the city averaged significantly more monthly closures under her tenure than her predecessor. However, officials say two years of aggressive sweeps have not meaningfully reduced the overall number of encampments.
Budget constraints are compounding the challenge. Oakland faces a reduced housing services budget and plans to close interim housing sites this spring, shrinking available shelter beds.
Meanwhile, Councilmember Ken Houston is advancing legislation to accelerate sweeps and remove a local requirement that the city offer shelter before displacing residents. The council could approve the plan without the mayor’s input, setting up a policy clash in the months ahead.
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