Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has ordered the closure of homeless encampments across New Orleans, including the city’s largest encampment located at Calliope Street and Loyola Avenue. This move, which comes just days before Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated three-day concert at Caesar’s Superdome, has ignited strong opposition from local officials and homeless services advocates. They argue that the sweep will disrupt ongoing efforts to provide housing and services to the homeless population.
In a press conference held near the Calliope encampment, Nathaniel Fields, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services and Strategy, called on Governor Landry to halt the plan. Flanked by over a dozen housing advocates, Fields urged collaboration rather than displacement. “We are asking the governor to not perform the sweeping of this encampment and other encampments,” Fields said. “We’re asking them to work with us and be a part of the partnership and not part of the problem.”
The political tensions escalated after Louisiana State Police notified local officials on Monday of the state’s intention to clear the encampments, which house roughly 75 people at the Calliope location alone. Additional encampments in the French Quarter are also slated for clearance on Thursday. Advocates argue that these actions will displace many individuals who are already in the process of being connected to housing and social services.
While state officials claim the closures are necessary to address public health and safety concerns, particularly with the influx of visitors for the Taylor Swift concert, local leaders assert that the timing of the sweep undermines ongoing efforts to combat homelessness in the city. Fields also called on residents and the public to voice their opposition, encouraging them to contact the governor’s office and demand a halt to the process.
The debate underscores a deeper issue in New Orleans, where homelessness has become increasingly visible and urgent. Homeless advocates argue that removing people from encampments without a clear plan for housing and services only perpetuates the crisis, pushing vulnerable individuals into more precarious situations. With the city bracing for a surge in tourism, the closure of these encampments has brought the longstanding tension between public safety concerns and humanitarian needs into sharp focus.
Governor Landry’s office has defended the action, stating that public health risks associated with the encampments require swift intervention. However, critics maintain that clearing encampments without addressing the root causes of homelessness, such as affordable housing shortages and lack of support services, will only exacerbate the problem. The impending sweep has highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated response that prioritizes both public safety and the well-being of New Orleans’ homeless population.
