Mayor Mamdani bars NYPD from responding to 311 homeless encampment calls

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued a directive barring New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers from responding to 311 complaints regarding homeless encampments. Under this new policy, responsibility for investigating these reports shifts to the Department of Social Services and Department of Homeless Services outreach teams.

Previously, while a separate policy prevented police from clearing encampments for at least seven days to allow for outreach, officers still responded to 311 calls related to these sites. Now, officers are instructed to call 311 themselves if they personally discover an encampment rather than intervening directly.

Critics and sources have expressed concern that the Department of Social Services is currently understaffed and overworked, potentially leading to delays in addressing reported locations. The NYPD will continue to handle 911 calls related to crimes, traffic, and general public safety issues.