Homeless Encampment Cleared for Taylor Swift Concerts \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Ahead of Taylor Swift’s three concerts in New Orleans, which could bring 150,000 visitors to the Superdome, state officials began relocating a homeless encampment near the stadium. About 75 individuals living in tents beneath an overpass were moved two blocks away, a decision tied to preparations for both the concerts and the upcoming Super Bowl. Advocates criticized the move, saying it disrupts efforts to find long-term housing.
Homeless Encampment Relocation Ahead of Concerts: Quick Looks
- State officials started relocating a homeless camp near the Superdome before Taylor Swift concerts.
- Around 75 homeless individuals were moved two blocks for safety, causing disruption to housing efforts.
- The relocation is part of a broader plan to prepare New Orleans for major events like the Super Bowl.
- Housing advocates claim the sudden move hampers long-term housing efforts and wastes tax money.
- Local city officials were caught off-guard by the state’s sudden action.
- Nonprofits stress that more humane solutions could have been implemented with proper coordination.
- Some homeless individuals, already struggling with mental health issues, felt threatened and fled.
- There is no confirmation that Taylor Swift or the NFL were involved in the decision.
Deep Look:
As New Orleans prepares for a bustling weekend with three Taylor Swift concerts at the Superdome, expected to draw about 150,000 visitors, Louisiana state authorities made a controversial move to relocate a homeless encampment located near the stadium. On Wednesday, approximately 75 people living in tents under a nearby highway overpass were directed to move to a location about two blocks away, according to a statement by the Louisiana State Police. While officials claim that the relocation is part of a safety effort tied to the upcoming concerts and February’s Super Bowl LIX, advocates and local authorities criticized the sudden decision, citing concerns about its impact on the city’s homeless population.
Gov. Jeff Landry’s office emphasized that the move was a step toward addressing safety concerns, specifically noting that the homeless population often crosses busy streets near the overpass. “As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans puts its best foot forward when on the world stage,” said Kate Kelly, Landry’s communications director, in a statement to local media. She explained that the camp was moved due to concerns about dangerous traffic patterns and said that only the most hazardous blocks were cleared. Later, Kelly reiterated to the Associated Press that the relocation covered a short distance and was designed to improve safety for both the homeless and the surrounding community.
Despite these assurances, housing advocates are raising alarms. The encampment in question, located beneath an overpass, has long been a focal point for local outreach groups working to find permanent housing for New Orleans’ homeless population. The relocation effort, however, threatens to disrupt these efforts. Martha Kegel, executive director of Unity of Greater New Orleans, a nonprofit that seeks permanent housing for the city’s unsheltered individuals, said that while moving the encampment was preferable to completely disbanding it, the process was still harmful. Kegel pointed out that many of those living in the camp suffer from mental illness and have developed a deep distrust of authorities, which means that even small disruptions could derail the progress made in recent months.
“Some people were frightened and left, and that’s not good,” Kegel explained, stressing that a significant amount of time and resources had already been invested in assessing and assisting these individuals. “All the work we did to document their disabilities and work with them on housing plans has now been wasted.” Kegel further noted that many of the displaced individuals had undergone intensive evaluations to qualify for permanent housing, a process that may have to be restarted following the forced relocation.
The relocation came as a surprise not just to advocates, but also to local officials. Lesli Harris, the City Council member representing the district that includes the Superdome and the French Quarter, expressed frustration over the state’s decision to act without proper coordination with city officials. Harris said that while she had been informed earlier in the week that a move would take place on Thursday, the sudden action on Wednesday morning caught both the council and housing advocates off-guard. “They’re suddenly here, on Wednesday morning, springing this on us,” Harris said, criticizing the last-minute nature of the move.
The timing of the relocation also raised questions. The dates for Swift’s concerts and the upcoming Super Bowl have been known for months, prompting advocates like Kegel to argue that the process could have been handled more thoughtfully. “We could have accomplished what the governor wanted in a humane and rational way and not just push people a couple of blocks away or scatter them,” Kegel said.
The state’s actions have also highlighted the ongoing challenge of addressing homelessness in a city like New Orleans, where tourism plays a critical role in the local economy. In addition to those displaced from the overpass encampment, authorities also moved individuals from the historic French Quarter neighborhood, a popular destination for tourists. The influx of visitors for high-profile events such as Swift’s concerts and the Super Bowl presents additional pressures on the city’s resources, and housing advocates worry that these temporary relocations will do little to address the long-term housing needs of the city’s homeless population.
Among the individuals affected by the move was Terrence Cobbins, a homeless resident of the encampment, who expressed frustration over being forced to move because of the upcoming events. “They ain’t never did it before for other people,” Cobbins said, questioning why the presence of Taylor Swift warranted such drastic action. “Why Taylor Swift?” While Cobbins was unhappy about the disruption, he admitted that there was little he could do to resist the relocation. “I can’t do nothing about it,” he added.
Meanwhile, City Council President Helena Moreno issued a statement calling for improved communication and coordination between state and local governments to address homelessness in a more comprehensive and sustainable manner. The lack of notice and consultation with local agencies, according to advocates, compounded the difficulty of an already delicate situation. “The concert dates were announced months ago,” Kegel reiterated, arguing that the governor’s goals could have been met without resorting to such abrupt actions.
Despite the growing criticism, it remains unclear whether either Taylor Swift or the NFL, which scheduled the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans four years ago, had any involvement or influence in the decision to relocate the homeless camp. As of Wednesday afternoon, representatives for both Swift and the NFL had not responded to requests for comment on the issue.
