Many of the citizens sleeping rough have caught themselves in flinty times after President Donald Trump instigated a spick-and-span drive; for the last month, the police have been clearing spaces where people without homes stay. This began at the onset of August 2025. Moreover, the White House reports over 50 spots have been subjected to cleanups by interagency teams with an eye for making the city a safe and neat place. However, most of the homeless people and their advocates say that is a paper reality.
Jeff Padgett is a 60-year-old man who has been homeless for the last eight years. He lives with his two small dogs, Puppet and Luna. Every day he packs his stuff into a cart, and goes to get food at a center in Georgetown and then crosses a bridge to Virginia, where he sleeps in the wood. He does this to make sure the police do not trouble him. “I don’t stay in the district at night anymore,” says Jeff. He feels they are treating him like trash.
Many of the homeless are perpetual motion people nowadays. They hole up during the day and catch sleep on buses at night. They don’t pitch tents because that would be a giveaway. This makes them very tired and scared. Workers at places like Miriam’s Kitchen and Georgetown Ministry Center are seeing more people come for safety. “People feel like they have no place to go,” says Andy Wassenich, who works on policy for homeless services. “It disrupts their lives a lot.”
The Trump team had promised fast changes. Trump in his message on Truth Social said, “Homeless need to be gone now,” he said that most certainly they would be located far from the capital. A voice of the White House also spoke of shelters, assistance in mental health and drug problems. Otherwise one would be fined or even jailed. However, a month later no new federal help has been given as the only thing that is continuing is the doing of the city without a solution.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has said that his administration wants to work together with the federal team in fighting crime and homelessness. More than 100 shelter beds were added during this time, and they also expedited help in connecting people to homes and services. More than 80 people, according to city officials, have taken shelter offers. The city’s health department offers mental health help, but they don’t have new numbers on how many used it lately. Last week, they counted 764 people still living outside.
Outreach workers provided some homeless helpers with a safety tip: “Team up and do not talk to cops if you can avoid it,” said Bush, who assists with outreach, “Try to be more incognito.” Don’t fall asleep in open, outdoor spaces, or doorways.” It really hurts to give this advice because then you’re telling someone to go hide or leave their community.
Gary Mercer, 62, has been in and out of homelessness for years. He says, “If you’re smart, you keep moving.” Some are heading towards Virginia at night. Arlington County in Virginia says they have not seen a big rise in homeless people yet. Still, they are vigilant and prepared to assist when needed.
Helpers concern losing connection with people. At Miriam’s Kitchen, they hand out basic phones to keep in touch. But they’ve lost touch with at least 25 people. It may mean that these people may not receive their medication, or whatever the case may be. “Who’s going to pick it up when someone needs a prescription and we can’t find them to give it?” questions Wassenich.
Actual bigger problems are revealed through this crackdown. As the article mentions, ‘Many Americans are a lot closer to being homeless than they think, with just one lost job or one big medical bill’ and ‘that one push away from being out on the streets’. “Homeless folks have more in common with all you regular kind of folks than they do with any so-called rich”.
Key Points of the Situation
- Promises Not Kept: The White House said they would provide shelters and mental health help. No new federal services have been launched. Only city services press on.
- City Response: DC added more than 100 shelter beds. More than 80 accepted shelter. A count showed 764 unsheltered people last week.
- Daily Struggles: People regularly move around to dodge sweeps. They go into woods, sleep in buses, and on the face of it look normal during the day.
- Helpers Advise: Stay in pairs, stay unseen, and avoid tents or sleeping in public. Do not engage with law enforcement.
- Impacts on Health: More exhaustion and fear. Lost contact means missed medical help like prescriptions or inhalers.
- Crossing Borders: Some go to Virginia at night to sleep safely. Local teams are there monitoring for changes.
This push has no long-term fixes, only maybe putting a Band-Aid over a wound that could fester slowly. Helpers call it like a show with no real end. “It’s just removal without more,” says Claire Wilson from the Georgetown center for the homeless in Washington D.C. Many homeless view shelters as bad places due to past bad times. They need better options to thrive.
The White House says the city has enough shelter space. They think this makes DC better for all. But on the ground, people like Jeff feel thrown away. His dogs go everywhere with him in his cart. He worries his things will be trashed.
As we fall into the weather gets colder. Without some real help, the times may grow much harder for the homeless. The crackdown is supposed to clean up but just puts problems someplace else. True, it needs more than to shuffle people around. It needs homes, jobs, and care for health’s other issues.
Ultimately, this story of a homeless reminder produces us all. Helpers say we should look for the common ground. It’s lasting help and not quick fixes.
