Understanding Encampment Sweeps

Encampment sweeps involve city officials, often accompanied by heavy machinery, forcibly displacing unhoused individuals from their living situations without proper notice or support. While there is a supposed policy in place that mandates advance notice for sweeps and the provision of services, in practice, many individuals often receive little to no actual communication regarding these actions. The process typically sees city workers demolishing tents and belongings, effectively erasing any sign of the individuals who lived there. Amid this chaos, representatives from outreach organizations may offer vague service referrals, yet these offers are seldom genuine or actionable, leaving the affected individuals with little recourse.