Trump Announces Removal of D.C. Camps, Local Governments Vary in Response to Homelessness Crisis

President Trunchuan announced on the 11th that he would clear D.C. camps and warned the occupants to leave immediately. The plan was to travel to D.C. on the same day. ABC reported on the 12th that the group was concerned about the fate of the homeless and how to clear the camp.

Dana White, director of the Miriam’s Kitchen Initiative, noted that it was not new for the Trump administration or local governments to announce the demolition of camps. However, this time, the lack of specific details was particularly shocking. There was no mention of which unit would be responsible for evacuating the campers, how the money would be obtained, or how the rights of the people involved would be protected.

Donald Whitehead Jr., director of the National Association for the Homeless, pointed out that President Trunchuan did not provide specific information on how to address the issue without punishment. He questioned where the Travellers would be housed, emphasizing that the solution for the Travellers is not the same as for immigrants. From the perspective of the Travellers’ Advocacy Group, the Trump administration lacked practical information and appeared more like a show than a genuine effort.

Local governments across the country have handled the camping of Travellers in different ways. Congressman Alex Lee, a Democratic Party member from the northern district of San José, proposed that cities would be illegal if they blocked organizations or individuals from providing assistance to Travellers.

In addition to the problems caused by displaced persons in private land camps, Seattle has taken action against landowners. The Campol Hill community recently had a large number of homeless people living in a vacant area of the city. They lived in garbage dumps and faced issues with drugs and fires. After residents complained to the municipality, inspectors issued a statute of limitation to landholders for a limited period to improve the situation. If they failed to resolve the mess within the deadline, they would face a fine of $500 per day.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)