Encampment as your home

In the US, as of 2019, homeless encampments were appearing in numbers not seen in almost a century. Approximately 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness in the United States live outdoors or in buildings not meant for human habitation, which often takes the form of homeless encampments.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that on a single night in 2023, about 653,100 people experienced homelessness, with the number of unsheltered individuals, those living in encampments or similar conditions, rising to over 200,000 in recent years.

In 2024, US homelessness increased nationally by over 18%. California limited its overall increase to 3%

A sign of society’s failure?

Encampments are found in many types of locations, from inner city sidewalks and highway underpasses to secluded wooded areas or along waterways. All nine cities reported that encampments are emerging in more visible and public places as a result of decreases in undeveloped, vacant, or less visible spaces. Such encampments might occur in shared common spaces, such as parks or highway rights of way. Elsewhere, encampments are appearing in more remote and hidden locations, such as along railroad tracks, in storm drains or in caves or tunnels.

In some cities, encampments form in proximity to homeless services providers and shelters, so residents have easy access to resources such as food assistance, restrooms, showers, and case management.

Most people living in encampments have ties to the local community. In most, albeit not all, cities most encampment residents grew up in the city or in the immediate geographic region.

Encampments are a sign that society has not succeeded in connecting folks to the housing and services that they need

Shortage of affordable housing

In a recent study from HUD, homeless services providers, law enforcement, outreach workers, and city staff identified the reasons they believe encampments form:

First is the general shortage of affordable housing nationwide and the acute shortages in certain metropolitan areas combined with the lack of sufficient resources to prevent and end homelessness in certain cities. Second is the composition and requirements of local shelter systems, which can push people into encampments for various reasons. Some cities lack enough shelter beds; others have shelter beds available that go unused because of regulations or conditions that are incompatible with potential clients’ expectations or needs. Third, compared with shelters, encampments can offer more autonomy or a sense of community, allowing people to come and go as they please; they also may offer a greater sense of privacy.

People of all ages, races, ethnicities, and genders live in encampments. Most encampment residents are adults. Generally, people living in encampment settings have high rates of disabling conditions, when compared to the overall population.

Cities respond

A divided Supreme Court in June 2024 overturned a lower court decision which held that local government ordinances regulating homeless encampments in public spaces were cruel and unusual punishment. That gave rise in recent years to many cities initiating or enhancing regulations prohibiting any form of encampment, giving police more power to disband them. As a result a crackdown is ongoing, despite opposition.

The dominant response from cities is a strategy that involves clearance, removing structures and belongings from encampments and closure. Some require that people only leave encampments with support through resource-intensive outreach to connect residents with services and to ensure every resident has a place to go upon closure.

Secluded

The image above is from the entry to an encampment in a secluded and out-of-sight location hidden in the terrain, yet close to the city’s center. Surprisingly, up to 5 people have been living there for more than 2 years. They insist on keeping their existence hidden and avoid any form of the litter, rubbish or other eye-soaring obstacles that sometimes mark urban encampments and raise neighborhood objections. The land in question is owned by the regional water authority and, as the occupants emphasize, it’s therefor outside the local police’s jurisdiction.

They claim that their approach is paying off: No complaints, no confrontations, no fuzz leading to a relatively stable lifestyle.