Residents say homeless are 'being left to rot' in Crown Heights encampment hotspot
For five years, calls to 311 have targeted homeless encampments along Nostrand Avenue, but some say nothing’s changed.
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Tattered tents turned into homes. Worn blankets as makeshift beds. Shopping carts used for storage right on the sidewalk. Residents say this is the daily reality of homelessness on their street.
“They carry all their possessions. If they have any bags and you see them sleeping here and there, it is very tragic, you know? These people are being left to rot,” said Juan Blanco, a neighbor.
For five years, calls to 311 have targeted homeless encampments along Nostrand Avenue, but some say nothing’s changed.
“Plenty people need help on the street. People trying to get an apartment to get going into a program. They’re still waiting,” said Curtis Green, a neighbor.
Dante b. Arnwine, district manager of Brooklyn Community Board 9 tells News that that they "encourage residents and organizations who engage unhoused individuals to call 311 to request for Breaking Ground or homeless services to visit the area to provide support."
Some say even with outreach from Breaking Ground and 24/7 canvassing by the New York City Department of Homeless Services, it’s still not enough.
“You got some that want to do better, and you got some that don’t want to do better. So, I feel like the mayor should have a certain place for them, just like everybody else,” said Rachel St. Juliette, a neighbor.
This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the city will resume clearing homeless encampments after pausing the policy last month - reviving it with a focus on consistent, ongoing outreach.
“We increased funding for specifically this kind of outreach so that we can actually connect homeless New Yorkers with the services that they require,” the mayor said.
A DSS spokesperson tells News 12 that, in coordination with Mayor Mamdani, 60 new outreach workers will be hired and more low-barrier shelters will open to better serve those in need.
