A new homeless encampment has established itself along East Ninth Street and Third Avenue, directly across from New York University dormitories, raising concerns among residents and passersby. The roughly 30-foot-long makeshift settlement, situated near Ukrainian Village Park, features a long blue tarp covering personal belongings including office chairs, luggage, and bicycles.
Residents of the encampment described their preference for living outdoors rather than in city shelters, citing issues such as theft and mistreatment inside the facilities. Raymond, 45, who has been staying in the encampment, said that since the administration of Mayor Isaiah Mamdani took office, conditions for those living on the streets have improved. “The past mayor had the police coming through and taking stuff,” Raymond said. “Now they ask if we are OK and need help.” He noted that he preferred roughing it on the sidewalk over staying at shelters, where he previously experienced theft.
His companion, Dave, 31, also expressed a sense of agency among those living on the streets. “There are plenty of services out there if you want it,” he said. “This is a choice. If you wanted to be inside, you could.” Dave added that some homeless individuals choose to remain outdoors despite harsh conditions, noting that several acquaintances froze to death during the past two winters because they opted not to enter shelters. He also acknowledged tensions with students in the area, saying, “At night, you have the drunk NYU kids talking s--t. You see both sides of it.”
The appearance of this encampment is part of a broader trend across New York City, where visible homeless settlements have grown in recent months. Other notable sites include a large shantytown near the Intrepid Museum on Manhattan’s West Side, which remained for an extended period before city authorities intervened, as well as districts beneath the FDR Drive on the East Side and parts of Greenwich Village.
Mayor Mamdani’s approach to managing homeless encampments differs from previous administrations. Under his policies, law enforcement officers are generally restricted from forcibly removing campers. Instead, the city deploys outreach workers who engage with individuals to offer services and encourage relocation. If encampments persist beyond a seven-day period, the NYPD and sanitation departments coordinate to clear debris and belongings.
On Sunday, NYPD officers responded to a 311 complaint regarding the NYU-area encampment. They instructed occupants to reduce the number of items on the sidewalk and consolidate their space but took no further action. The hands-off policy has drawn mixed reactions. Some residents and observers likened the scene to Skid Row in Los Angeles, highlighting ongoing challenges related to homelessness and urban management.