Political clash over handling of homeless in New Orleans far from over

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Ahead of last weekend’s Taylor Swift concerts in New Orleans, Gov. Jeff Landry ordered Louisiana State Police troopers and agents from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to clear a homeless encampment near the Caesars Superdome.

Approximately 75 people in the illegal encampment ended up being moved a few blocks away before a judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement action.

“I was told by a city official that there are 62 people in the encampment as of this morning. That number had been larger, but people are free to go where they want to go,” said Joe Heeren-Mueller of Unity of Greater New Orleans.

Unity is an advocacy group working to get housing for the homeless in the city. Heeren-Mueller says Unity has worked closely with city leaders to address homelessness. So, when Gov. Landry’s sweep began last Wednesday before the Eras Tour concerts, councilwoman Lesli Harris vented her frustration.

“This is really upsetting to people who are already in the encampment and are just being re-traumatized by this maneuver that really is for a concert,” Harris said last week.

A lawsuit on behalf of some of those in the homeless encampment was filed and a civil court judge ultimately issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state from continuing with its sweep. Gov. Landry responded by saying the city has received tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to address homelessness, but is failing.

“Either the city addresses the problem, or we will,” Landry said.

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Dillard University political analyst Dr. Robert Collins says there was a clear communication breakdown between the city and the state.

“Part of it is simply the governor makes up his mind that he’s going to do what he feels is in the best interest of the city and he’s going to do it, regardless of the mayor’s position or the position of the city council,” Collins said. “Homelessness is a generational issue, it’s not new. Every mayor has had to struggle with it. They just believe differently in how to handle the issue.”

Homeless advocates say the state’s approach doesn’t offer long-term solutions and could make the problem even more widespread.

“Unfortunately, sometimes what you see happen when you have communities that focus on just moving people who are unhoused from one place to another is that they wind up moving from inopportune locations to even more inopportune locations,” Heeren-Mueller said. “Places that are close to residential neighborhoods, commercial businesses areas and it doesn’t resolve their homelessness.”

Last week, Fox 8 spoke with a local resident who lives near the encampment and supported the state’s actions. He said such a sweep was overdue and welcomed, because some members of the homeless population have broken into his property and defecated in public.

The question of what to do with homeless encampments consistently comes up when New Orleans is set to host a major event. With Super Bowl LIX coming to New Orleans in February, Unity of Greater New Orleans says the approach to homeless encampments needs to change.

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