NEW YORK CITY, New York — Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that New York City will resume clearing homeless encampments, reversing a pause he implemented shortly after taking office in January.
The Democrat said the revised policy will emphasize outreach rather than police-led enforcement. Under the new plan, the city will post notices at encampments and send homeless services outreach workers daily for seven days to connect individuals with shelter and support services. On the seventh day, sanitation crews will dismantle the site, with NYPD officers present as observers.
Mamdani had previously criticized encampment sweeps under former Mayor Eric Adams, arguing they did not do enough to move people into housing. He now says the updated strategy will better connect unsheltered residents to services.
The decision follows a prolonged cold snap during which at least 19 people died outdoors in the city, intensifying scrutiny of the administration’s response. Officials said there is no evidence those who died were living in encampments.
Advocacy groups criticized the move, warning it could erode trust between outreach workers and homeless residents. Some city leaders, however, praised the effort as necessary to protect lives during extreme weather.
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