Mamdani Administration Halts Automatic Police Response to 311 Homeless Encampment Complaints

This week, the city quietly shifted its approach to one of New York’s most visible and contentious issues: homeless encampments. As of September 22, 2026, Mayor Mamdani’s administration stopped sending police officers by default to address 311 complaints about homeless encampments. Instead, those calls are now routed to outreach teams from the Department of Social Services, city officials confirmed Friday.

On Thursday morning, outreach workers in fluorescent vests could be seen near the Manhattan entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, offering services to a group sheltering beneath scaffolding. One worker, who declined to give her name, said, “We’re here to connect people with shelter and health care, not to threaten them with handcuffs.” The NYPD, previously the frontline responders to these 311 complaints, is now dispatched only if outreach workers request backup.

The change comes amid rising debate about the role of law enforcement in addressing homelessness, especially as autumn chill sets in and more New Yorkers are forced outdoors. The Department of Social Services says its teams are trained to de-escalate tense situations and offer resources, rather than simply disperse camps. “We want to build trust, not fear,” said DSS spokesperson Carla Lin in a brief statement Friday afternoon.

Not everyone is convinced. Some block association leaders in Midtown argue that the softer approach could lead to more visible encampments. Still, advocates for unhoused New Yorkers point to studies showing that police-led sweeps do little to reduce homelessness—and often make it harder for outreach teams to connect people to housing. The city is betting that a more humane first response will yield better long-term outcomes, but the real test will play out on sidewalks and underpasses in the coming weeks.