City launches new process to respond to homeless encampments

In an effort to streamline the cleanup of public spaces occupied by homeless encampments, the city has launched its new Homeless Encampment Management Team. The new system is designed to help prioritize the $4.8 million budgeted for encampment cleanup and a new “tracking and prioritization tool” will support “consistent data capture and improve understanding of needs, risks and trends across encampments citywide.” A memo about the team and the tool has more information about the restructuring, which enlists a number of city departments and redefines the situations they may respond to. Find more information about the city’s efforts to prevent and address homelessness here.