Rochester Clears Homeless Encampment Amid Frigid Weather Concerns; Lawmakers Respond
City officials dismantled a homeless encampment beneath the South Clinton Avenue bridge on Friday, citing imminent freezing temperatures and safety concerns. The sweep, conducted five days before Christmas, has drawn criticism from advocates who argue the action leaves vulnerable individuals without shelter during harsh weather.
The encampment, located near Marshall Street, had been home to several individuals for months.
City spokesperson Barbara Pierce stated that the decision to clear the site was driven by compassion, aiming to prevent potential fatalities as temperatures were forecasted to drop significantly over the weekend. "We believe strongly that our actions were compassionate and humane," Pierce said.
Outreach teams offered transportation to Code Blue shelters, which provide emergency housing during severe weather. However, none of the eight residents accepted the offer. Some cited personal reasons, such as the inability to bring pets or concerns about shelter conditions, for declining assistance.
Advocates criticized the timing and execution of the sweep. Rachel Bailey, outreach program manager with Person-Centered Housing Options, expressed concern over the lack of notice and the potential dangers posed to those displaced. "It's horrible, and to do this right before the holidays," Bailey said. "It's just really cruel."
Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart says the sweeps are harmful, especially because the services offered don't match the needs of the displaced people.
Barnhart—along with Legislators Sue Hughes-Smith and Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons—introduced legislation in October calling for the mayor, county executive and Sheriff to stop sweeps of homeless encampments.
"It's unfortunate that after legislators requested a moratorium on sweeps of homeless encampments, that we saw one occur during a winter blast of weather and right before Christmas,” she said. “I call on all stakeholders to find more humane ways of solving the problem of homelessness."
City Councilmembers Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin, and Kim Smith condemned the decision, calling for an immediate halt to such sweeps and advocating for more compassionate and collaborative solutions to address homelessness.
“Sweeping an encampment traumatizes already impacted people and is counterproductive to ending homelessness,” they said in a statement. “Scattering people and their belongings negatively impacts the survival of our unhoused neighbors, separating people from essential social supports and medical care.”
The councilmembers are calling on the mayor’s office to:
· Immediately halt encampment sweeps
· Scheduled a meeting between the Mayor, Councilmembers and key stakeholders responsible for addressing the homelessness crisis in Rochester.
· Publicly release the administrations current removal policies, procedures, and practices to provide full transparency
The city has stored the belongings of the displaced individuals, who can retrieve their items by contacting 311. As temperatures continue to drop, the debate over how to humanely and effectively address homelessness in Rochester remains a pressing issue.
Monroe County Warming Center Sites are listed below. Free transportation is available through RTS:
Open Door Mission, 210 W Main Street, RTS Routes: 16, 17,18,19,20
House of Mercy, 285 Ormond Street, RTS Route 3
Saving Grace Ministries, 1140 Norton Street, Rochester, RTS Route 4,5
Comments