New York City is seeing a significant shift in its approach to addressing homelessness, as Mayor Zohran MamdaniS administration implements a new policy prioritizing social services over police enforcement.The changes,which took effect this week,halt the practice of dismantling homeless encampments adn limit the NYPD’s role in addressing the city’s ongoing crisis.The policy is already being felt in neighborhoods like Woodhaven, Queens, sparking debate over public safety and the city’s responsibility to its vulnerable population.
New York City –
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has implemented a new policy aimed at a more humane approach to addressing homelessness, halting the forced dismantling of encampments and limiting police authority in enforcement. The move has sparked protests from residents concerned about the impact on public spaces.
The changes are already visible in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Queens, along Jamaica Avenue near 98th Street, where a homeless encampment has formed under an elevated train line. Under the new policy, city sanitation workers are clearing the area without removing the personal belongings of those living there, instead organizing and replacing items on the sidewalk.
This approach has drawn criticism from local officials and residents, who argue that public spaces are being repurposed as informal housing. City Council Member Joann Ariola has voiced skepticism about the extent of the city’s efforts to assist those experiencing homelessness.
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“What’s next, city-funded outreach to bring people sleeping on the streets home?” Ariola questioned, according to the New York Post on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
Police have responded to the location following complaints from residents and community leaders, but their ability to intervene has been curtailed. The new policy represents a shift away from the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) previous practice of directly dismantling homeless encampments, prioritizing instead a social services and housing-focused approach.
Under updated guidelines, officers responding to reports are now limited to documenting conditions with body cameras and offering medical assistance if needed. They are prohibited from forcibly displacing individuals experiencing homelessness, even during extreme weather, unless there is an immediate threat to life and with the approval of a supervisor.
The policy is part of a broader plan by Mamdani to address the city’s homelessness crisis through a “housing first” strategy, allocating $1 billion (approximately 16 trillion Indonesian Rupiah, based on a current exchange rate of 16,800 Rupiah per US dollar) to the Department of Community Safety. The focus of addressing homelessness is shifting to teams of civilian social workers who will connect individuals with supportive housing or rental assistance, rather than relying on police enforcement.
Residents of Woodhaven say they are directly affected by the changes, feeling that the policy effectively allows individuals experiencing homelessness to establish settlements. Mamdani’s administration has signaled it will not actively challenge the presence of these encampments.
Concerns are growing among residents, particularly regarding the safety of children who must pass through the area daily. Complaints have been filed through the city’s 311 service, with 12 reports logged since the beginning of the year concerning the encampments and illegal dumping. However, some reports have been closed with a notation that police found no encampment at the location.
While some individuals experiencing homelessness have praised Mamdani’s policy for ending forced evictions, criticism continues to mount from residents who believe the approach is enabling the expansion of informal settlements. Some argue the policy amounts to inaction.
(das/das)
