New York City is grappling with a growing homelessness crisis as encampments proliferate in neighborhoods across Manhattan, including areas near popular attractions like the Intrepid Museum on the West Side. The rise in visible homelessness and related issues such as drug use have prompted concern among residents, business owners, and local officials, putting pressure on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration to find effective solutions.

Since taking office in January, Mayor Mamdani has faced criticism for the city’s handling of street homelessness, especially regarding the clearing of encampments. These clusters of makeshift shelters, often constructed from tarps, plywood, and discarded furniture, have expanded along streets near Times Square and other parts of Midtown, creating conditions some describe as unsafe and unsanitary. Community members note that despite efforts by the city to remove these encampments, many reappear quickly, disrupting daily life and deterring visitors.

Under the previous administration of Eric Adams, the city conducted more frequent and aggressive sweeps of these encampments. Mamdani initially paused this practice after taking office but later resumed it following several outdoor deaths during a cold snap. However, his administration introduced a policy requiring at least seven days’ notice before removing encampments. This delay is intended to give outreach workers time to engage individuals living on the streets, encouraging them to accept services and safeguarding their belongings. Critics argue the policy instead enables residents to avoid removal by simply relocating nearby before the seven-day period concludes.

“This policy is insane. It does not help the very people it’s saying it’s helping,” said Delores Rubin, a Hell’s Kitchen resident and community liaison to the local police precinct. City officials explain that the policy stems from legal agreements reached after lawsuits challenged earlier enforcement methods.

Alongside the sweeping policy changes, the city has launched a new system to better track encampments and coordinate responses. It is also expanding programs that prioritize immediate housing placement for unsheltered individuals. Mayor Mamdani has proposed an ambitious plan to build 200,000 new housing units over the next decade, aiming to increase affordability for working-class New Yorkers and address longer-term housing shortages.

Despite these initiatives, frustration persists among community leaders and advocates who argue that the current efforts lack urgency and comprehensive planning. As of March 2026, nearly 5,000 people were counted living unsheltered on city streets, marking an 11% increase from the previous year. Homeless advocates caution that sweep-based strategies offer only temporary relief and that many individuals avoid shelter services due to prior negative experiences.

“Unless you’re offering people something that’s meaningful to them, all you’re doing is chasing them around the city and making it harder to provide them with what they need in order to get stability,” said Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless. He pointed to the need for more affordable housing options targeted specifically at the lowest-income residents, a gap he says Mamdani’s plan does not fully address.

Local business owners are also sounding alarms about the impact of homelessness on economic activity. Michael Breslaw, a landlord and plumbing company owner near the Intrepid Museum, said encampments have worsened over the past ten months, creating unsafe conditions that could drive tenants away. “Families don’t want to stay here if this is the environment,” he said.

A spokesperson for the mayor’s office emphasized that a comprehensive homelessness strategy is forthcoming. “Through meaningful street outreach, stabilization options, and supportive housing, the Mamdani administration will help New Yorkers rebuild their lives with dignity, care, and stability,” the official said, with plans to unveil a detailed plan by year-end.