Hochul Opposes Mamdani’s Plan to End NYC Homeless Encampment Sweeps

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly opposed Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani‘s initiative to end the sweeps of homeless encampments in the city. Hochul’s stance aligns with outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who has consistently supported the sweeps as part of the city’s response to homelessness. This disagreement puts pressure on Mamdani, who announced on November 2, 2023, his intention to halt the sweeps once he takes office, arguing that they have failed to effectively connect individuals living on the streets with stable housing.

A spokesperson for Hochul stated that the governor believes enforcement measures, including sweeps, must remain a component of the city’s strategy for addressing homelessness. “Allowing New Yorkers to sleep on sidewalks or under bridges is not a humane solution to homelessness,” said Kara Cumoletti, Hochul’s press secretary. She emphasized that the governor supports an approach that combines enforcement with connections to supportive housing and mental health services.

During a press conference on November 1, 2023, Mamdani criticized the current strategy, claiming that the sweeps have not aided unsheltered New Yorkers in accessing necessary housing. He described the city’s handling of homelessness as treating it as an unavoidable aspect of urban life rather than a result of political choices. “If you are not connecting homeless New Yorkers to the housing that they so desperately need, you cannot deem anything you’re doing to be a success,” Mamdani asserted.

Mamdani plans to prioritize linking individuals to supportive or rental housing, proposing the establishment of a Department of Community Safety, which would reduce police involvement in interactions with homeless individuals.

Adams responded to Mamdani’s comments, warning that ending the sweeps could lead to a “quality-of-life nightmare” for city residents. He stated in a video posted on social media, “Showing compassion for those sleeping on the streets is not a sweep; it is humane.” Adams expressed concern that discontinuing sweeps would perpetuate problems seen in other cities that allow encampments. He urged the incoming administration to reconsider its approach, asserting that labelling abandonment as progress is misleading and damaging.

Advocates for the homeless have expressed support for Mamdani’s position, citing years of evidence indicating that sweeps do not effectively connect individuals with meaningful support. Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, criticized the Adams administration’s reliance on sweeps and other punitive measures, declaring them an “unmitigated failure.” He welcomed Mamdani’s commitment to connecting people with safe and affordable permanent housing.

The sweeps began in 2022 under Adams’ administration, involving coordinated efforts from the NYPD, the Department of Sanitation, and various social services agencies. Adams has framed the initiative as a means to connect outdoor dwellers with necessary services while removing makeshift encampments.

Nevertheless, advocates argue that the sweeps often result in trauma for individuals experiencing homelessness, frequently leading to forced removals and the loss of personal belongings. A 2023 audit by Comptroller Brad Lander revealed that over 2,300 people were cleared from encampments in the first year of the initiative, yet only three were placed into permanent housing.

Recent data further illustrates the ongoing issues with the sweeps. Since 2024, the city has allocated more than $6.4 million to clear 4,148 sites, yet no individuals were placed in permanent housing through vouchers or direct placements. In a report from May 2024, it was noted that of approximately 3,500 people displaced from encampments, only 114 ultimately entered shelters.

According to the latest quarterly report from the Department of Homeless Services, there were 956 sweeps conducted between July and September 2024. During this period, sweep teams encountered 2,210 individuals without any placements into permanent or supportive housing. Many locations had been cleared multiple times, highlighting the repetitive nature of these operations across various council districts, particularly in parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

As discussions around the future of homelessness policy in New York City continue, the contrasting perspectives of Hochul, Mamdani, and Adams underscore the complexities of addressing this persistent issue.