A relocation notice posted in front of a makeshift shelter at the Earhart encampment Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Those living at the underpass will be transported Wednesday to the Transitional Center. (John Gray/Verite News)
Law enforcement officers posted signs explaining that people living in the encampment — which Landry established during a series of sweeps in October, over the objections of city officials — will be forced to move to a new shelter, called a “Transitional Center,” on France Road near Pontchartrain Park.
According to the notices, relocation efforts are set to begin at 5 a.m. Wednesday and will continue through Friday. The signs were posted at encampments on Earhart Boulevard, near New Orleans Mission and near Calliope and Camp streets, a legal observer told Verite News.
The warnings followed an announcement from Landry saying that encampments located in the city’s core — around the Superdome, French Quarter and along North Claiborne Avenue under the Interstate 10 overpass — would be targeted for clearance this week. In a news release, Landry cited recent events, including the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, along with the upcoming tourism season and the Super Bowl, as reasons to get people off the street quickly.
“With the recent ISIS terrorist attack, the Dec 8th fire under I-10, frigid temperatures, and the destruction of the riverfront streetcar line, it is in the best interest of every citizen’s safety and security to give the unhoused humane and safe shelter as we begin to welcome the world to the City of New Orleans for both Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras,” said Landry in the release.
State troopers previously cleared New Orleans homeless encampments in the fall — in an abrupt action taken without consulting city officials. At the time, residents were told to move to the state-sanctioned site.
After civil rights attorneys filed suit on behalf of homeless residents, a New Orleans judge prohibited state troopers from conducting sweeps without providing 24 hours notice required by city law. That order was recently overturned by the Louisiana Supreme Court. The state is still following city noticing guidelines, informing encampment residents nearly 48 hours ahead of the planned action.
People living in the Earhart encampment had mixed reactions to the latest news. Some said they were optimistic at the notion of leaving the overpass behind, while others were frustrated at what they said was short notice to move.
Harold Magee said he has been waiting to be placed in permanent housing for 12 months. He told Verite News he’s ready to leave the encampment.
“I’ll be glad to go somewhere else,” Magee said.
Billy Flatt said his important documents — including his identification — and his dentures and glasses were stolen while he was living at the Earhart encampment. He told Verite that he hopes the security at the new location will be better than the Earhart encampment and looks forward to the amenities and meals being offered.
“Anything is better than down here,” Flatt said.
According to Landry’s news release, people who are unhoused but have jobs will be prioritized for housing vouchers and social support services. The statement indicates that some people will be removed entirely from the state.
“Those who are utilizing state and parish resources but who have means will be given bus or train tickets out of state,” the release said.
An area across from the encampment is already being transformed into a food truck plaza to attract visitors during the Super Bowl.
Allen Strait compared the relocation process to an eviction, saying the state’s action made him feel powerless.
“They want us out and we can’t put up a fight,” Strait said.
The notices advertised that security, meals and other amenities will be provided at the new facility, a warehouse the Port of New Orleans owns at 5601 France Road, about a 15-minute drive from the Superdome and nearly a mile from the nearest RTA bus stop.
The temporary housing is being provided using resources from multiple state agencies, including the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and Department of Children & Family Services.
Verite News contacted the governor’s office, Louisiana State Police and the city’s Office Of Homeless Services And Strategy (OHSS) for comment on the plan. State Police and OHSS did not answer questions, and the governor’s office never responded.
New Orleans City Councilwoman Lesli Harris expressed her disappointment with the governor’s move in an Instagram post, criticizing the Landry administration as well as the Louisiana Supreme Court.
“With several events placing New Orleans on the national stage in the coming months, I am worried these policies will continue to disrupt our progress in tackling homelessness as a city,” Harris said in the post. “The last round of sweeps undid months of progress in building trust between unhoused individuals and outreach providers.”
Donna Paramore, CEO of Traveller’s Aid Society of Greater New Orleans — a service provider for the unhoused — told Verite the closure of the encampments will make it harder for the organization to reach those who choose not to go to the new facility.
Joe Heeren-Mueller, director of community engagement at Unity of Greater New Orleans — which is working with the city on a long-term effort to find permanent housing for residents of the city’s homeless encampments — told Verite the effects that this relocation will have on the organization’s work “remains to be seen,” but affirmed that the group will continue to work to rehouse those living at the Earhart encampment.
According to Heeren-Miller, UNITY heard about the state-led relocation before it was announced but was not a part of its planning or implementation.
“It’s not going to stop us from continuing to house people,” Heeren-Mueller said. “That’s what we do, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
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This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.