What changed this week is how complaints enter that system. Before the change, the city\u2019s 311 website told New Yorkers<\/a> that officers from the local police precinct would respond within four hours, inspect the location and refer their findings to DHS.<\/p>\n Now, the reports go directly to Homeless Services, where outreach teams assess the location themselves.\n<\/p>\n DSS said routing complaints directly to its Joint Command Center will also allow the agency to better track encampments from the first 311 report through outreach and cleanup.<\/p>\n The agency is updating StreetSmart, its homeless outreach tracking system, so workers can keep information about 311 complaints, notices, cleanups and outreach visits tied to a specific encampment in one place. Staff will also be able to link client profiles to locations and map encampments across the city.<\/p>\n \u201cThese improvements will allow us to assign, track, monitor, and report on encampment work in a more efficient, data-oriented manner,\u201d DSS said.\n<\/p>\n City 311 data shows roughly 8,650 encampment reports during the first eight months of 2026, after accounting for parallel DHS and NYPD records generated for many of the same complaints.<\/p>\n That was about 7.5% fewer than the roughly 9,350 reports during the same period last year. More than 83% of this year\u2019s reports, roughly 7,210, were in Manhattan.<\/p>\n Those figures represent 311 reports, not unique encampments. Multiple people can report the same location.\n<\/p>\n NYPD will still be involved in some homeless encampment complaints NYPD said crimes, traffic conditions and other public safety issues will continue to be handled through 911, while DHS can request police assistance during an encampment operation.<\/p>\n When officers are assigned to a joint operation, their role is to preserve the peace and prevent crimes, according to the department.\n<\/p>\n \u201cAny crime, traffic condition, or public safety issue will continue to be directed to the NYPD via 911,\u201d an NYPD spokesperson said. \u201cAs always, New Yorkers should continue to call 911 if any individual appears to pose an immediate risk to themselves or others, or if there is suspicious activity.\u201d<\/p>\n The department also said that during certain periods of extreme weather, calls involving homeless people in need of shelter may be routed through 911.\n<\/p>\n That exception could become relevant this weekend, as the city prepares for a nor\u2019easter expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding<\/a>. Officials had not said whether the extreme-weather provision would be activated.<\/p>\n The 311 change comes seven months after Mamdani put DHS in charge<\/a> of encampment cleanups.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/DSC05606-copy-2-copy-re-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Mamdani")
June 30, 2021: NYPD tears down couple\u2019s homeless encampment.Photo by Dean Moses<\/p>\n