When cities in the U.S. hold special events, local and state governments do their best to clean up and bring the city into a positive light. They aim to keep public perception high as visitors enter the area and take focus off their underlying flaws.
One way of doing so is the relocation of homeless individuals and encampments. This tactic is used commonly throughout the world for various events like the Olympics, concerts, high-profile gatherings, sporting contests and more. This temporary fix is effective but does not solve the real problems of homelessness and the availability of affordable housing.
On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that cities were allowed to impose bans on sleeping and camping in public spaces, effectively giving local governments more authority to move homeless individuals without providing the appropriate shelter needed.
When governments participate in the relocation of the homeless, it creates public discourse as people look at the timing of these practices and why the government has suddenly decided to take action. The psychological toll that they experience can create many issues in an already difficult situation for both parties involved. This raises the question of whether governments only address these issues when it is to their advantage.
In July 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order intended to remove homeless encampments across the state in response to the Supreme Court ruling. This garnered mixed responses from both citizens and local officials. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her concerns over effectiveness and how these temporary fixes would impact them in the long run. San Francisco then announced that homeless tents and encampments were in decline because of the measures taken.
Another instance of homeless relocation occurred in San Francisco last November, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. This summit includes high ranking officials like former President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The city issued a ‘clean up’ campaign that removed homeless communities near the Moscone Center where the APEC summit took place.
“I know folks say ‘oh, they’re just cleaning this place up because all of those fancy leaders are coming into town’ and that is true, because it is true, but it is also true for months and months and months prior to APEC.”- Gavin Newsom, California Governor
New Orleans is also dealing with the issue of homelessness. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry started a plan to relocate the homeless near the Caesars Superdome in preparation for the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 to improve the city’s image for visitors.
In a recent press conference Landry stated, “It is in the best interest of every citizen’s safety and security to provide the unhoused with humane and safe shelter.”
