Trump's comments regarding homelessness in Washington D.C. raise worries among advocates for the homeless population
President Donald Trump's plan for addressing homelessness in Washington D.C. has been met with a mix of support and criticism.
- Immediate Relocation and Enforcement: Trump has ordered homeless individuals to leave the capital immediately, using emergency powers under the Home Rule Act. The deployment of 800 National Guard troops and hundreds of federal agents is expected to enforce compliance. Those who refuse to leave may face fines or jail time, as per the White House's warning.
- Civil Commitment: The administration plans to shift homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings through civil commitment. This approach aims to provide humane treatment, focusing on individuals with drug addictions or mental health conditions.
- Resource Allocation: The administration mentions spending tens of billions of dollars on failed homelessness programs in the past. However, specific details on how resources will be reallocated or utilized to address homelessness in D.C. under Trump's plan are not explicitly outlined.
- Criticism and Concerns: Advocates for the homeless argue that this plan will exacerbate the crisis due to the lack of affordable housing and support services. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other critics see the move as a political power grab, especially since violent crime rates in D.C. are reported to be at historic lows.
Dana White, the advocacy director for Miriam's Kitchen, has expressed concern about the vague language regarding removing homeless individuals from D.C. altogether. Dismantling homeless encampments is a counterproductive strategy to resolving homelessness, according to White.
Trump's remarks on homelessness have sparked concerns among advocacy groups due to the lack of details about where people will go and how they will be transported. Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the D.C.-based National Coalition for the Homeless, has questioned whether Trump's plans for homeless individuals are similar to those for the immigration population, with people being moved to remote destinations.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has stated that her office has not received any more details from the White House about the plans for homeless encampments. In March, Trump issued an executive order for the removal of homeless encampments on federal land within D.C.
- Successes and Progress: Despite the concerns, it's worth noting that D.C. has seen a decrease in homelessness. In 2025, there was an overall 9% decrease in homelessness in D.C. from the previous year, including an 18.1% decrease among families and a 4.5% decrease among single individuals, according to D.C.'s most recent census of people experiencing homelessness. Permanent, affordable housing with supportive services is a proven solution for chronically homeless people, according to homeless advocates.
In a separate news article, a mountain lion attack was reported in Malibu, California, where an 11-year-old girl was attacked at her home. This fact is not related to the previous paragraphs and is not included in the bullet points.
- Critics have accused President Trump's plan for addressing homelessness of being a political power grab, questioning its alignment with past policies on immigration, where individuals were moved to remote destinations.
- Concerned advocacy groups continue to point out the potential exacerbation of the homelessness crisis in D.C., due to the lack of specific details about affordable housing and support services in Trump's plan.
- Despite mounting criticism and concerns, it should be noted that D.C. has experienced progress in reducing homelessness, as evidenced by a 9% decrease from 2025 compared to the previous year, with significant reductions among families and single individuals.
