NEW ORLEANS — Looking to reach a goal of ending homelessness in New Orleans, on Monday the city began its plan to close homeless encampments and move people without housing into subsidized apartments.
According to NOLA.com, so far, 17 people have already been relocated from an encampment. And the city has its eye on relocating 100 people as it clears its first two encampments. And while the city did not share where the encampments were, the largest downtown encampments are located at Calliope Street under the Pontchartrain Expressway.
City officials said Monday the goal of the program is to achieve, "low or no unsheltered homelessness," by the end of 2025.
But that goal has its challenges, according to Clutch Consulting Group consultant Mandy Chapman Semple who was hired by New Orleans in June to lead the project.
According to Chapman Semple, the city's funding as of this month's launch was only enough to house 420 people. New Orleans would need another $11 million to reach all 1,500 homeless within the city.
And the uphill climb to house those living in encampments has only intensified. Since last year the number of homeless people in the New Orleans area grew by 50%. Still consultants remain optimistic.
"You're closer than so many other cities," said consultant Chapman Semple, who has worked with cities in Texas and Oklahoma on similar strategies. "You're talking about achieving ... very dramatic reductions."
The city also faces another money hurdle of $2 million to cover items that public funds can not be used for such as incentives for landlords, furniture and food for the residents.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
