NEW ORLEANS — As the city gears up to host the Super Bowl in the upcoming month, Louisiana officials have taken action to clear homeless encampments surrounding the stadium. On Wednesday, many individuals living in these encampments were moved to a temporary facility that incurs millions of dollars in operating costs.
Governor Jeff Landry presented this operation as a necessary measure for security, especially given the alarming incident on New Year’s Day where 14 lives were lost. This approach, however, has been met with criticisms from city officials who believe it undermines broader strategies aimed at addressing homelessness in the area. The governor, known for a hardline stance on crime, has laid out plans to enhance the safety and appeal of New Orleans before the Super Bowl at the Superdome. These plans include establishing a new troop of the Louisiana State Police specifically for the city and ensuring that public areas, including highways and sidewalks, are kept clean and secure.
“It is vital for the safety and security of all citizens to provide the unhoused with a humane and safe shelter as we prepare to welcome the world to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras,” Governor Landry stated earlier this week.
Recently, the state’s Supreme Court lifted a restraining order that had prevented state police from dismantling homeless encampments in New Orleans. Shortly following this ruling, authorities issued “relocation notices” at one of the largest encampments near the Superdome, urging individuals to vacate the area. The notice made it clear that non-compliance could lead to legal consequences.
On Wednesday morning, state police arrived at the encampment to instruct individuals to gather their belongings and board buses to a “transitional center” situated several miles away in a secured warehouse owned by the Port of New Orleans. While encampment residents were informed that attending this center was not mandatory, they were not permitted to remain where they were without facing possible arrest, according to Mike Steele, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Among those affected was Ray Cooper, who was desperately searching for his social security card amidst a sea of scattered belongings. After years of living on the streets, Cooper chose to refuse the state’s offer to relocate to the center, voicing his discontent. “That just turned me off — we’re going to a warehouse? I’m not a UPS package or anything like that, I’m a human,” Cooper asserted.
This temporary facility is designed to accommodate up to 200 individuals. As of Wednesday evening, 131 people had already settled in, according to Bart Farmer, president of Workforce Group, which is managing the site. The center provides three meals daily, beds, showers, toilets, and even space for medication refrigeration and veterinary care for pets as outlined in the relocation notice. The projected operational cost for the center over a 90-day period is approximately $16.2 million.
Critics of this approach argue that it represents a short-term solution rather than addressing the core issue of homelessness. A coalition of 12 community organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, sent a letter voicing their concerns regarding the effectiveness and financial efficiency of this plan. “Evidence-based best practices for ending homelessness are focused on providing permanent housing coupled with supportive services,” remarked Martha Kegel, leader of UNITY, an organization partnering with the city to help its homeless population.
As part of Landry’s announced strategy, priority for housing and services will be given to “citizens that have jobs,” with indications that those with means might be offered bus or train tickets to leave the state. While specifics of this relocation plan remain vague, Steele confirmed any moves out of state would be voluntary.
This new direction of the state contrasts with the City of New Orleans’ approach, which emphasizes closing encampments by first offering long-term housing solutions. The city has requested $6 million from the state to support these initiatives, arguing that state-led actions only hinder timely housing and services for the roughly 1,500 homeless individuals in New Orleans.
Among those in the encampment, 63-year-old Candice Allison, who has been without shelter since Hurricane Ida destroyed her trailer in 2021, was sorting through her belongings in a frantic attempt to salvage what she could. “I’ve been doing this all night, I haven’t eaten, I haven’t slept, I’m exhausted,” Allison lamented.
