The City of York April 29 announced a coordinated plan to close homeless encampments across the city through what it calls a structured and humane process, according to a news release.
The initiative, titled “Compassionate Clear-Out: Encampments Closure Timeline,” sets a planned closure date of June 2, 2026, following what the city described as a more than 30-day period of outreach, coordination and preparation, according to the release.
“This initiative is about balance. We are ensuring public safety while engaging individuals with dignity and connecting them to available resources,” Mayor Sandie Walker said in the release. She said the city is taking a coordinated and thoughtful approach that prioritizes both resident well-being and the integrity of public spaces.
The initiative involves multiple city departments, including the York City Police Department, Department of Public Works, Department of Fire and Rescue Services, and the Department of Community and Economic Development, according to the release. The release said the city is also working with outreach partners and service providers to ensure individuals living in encampments are informed and supported throughout the process.
The announcement came the same day the York Daily Record reported on a large homeless encampment stretching nearly a half mile along trails near Bantz Park. Interviews with residents of the encampment revealed some had lived there for a year. Many cited difficulty finding jobs and affordable housing, along with medical issues, as the reasons they wound up at the camp.
Former Mayor Michael Helfrich had allowed unhoused people to live in the area, saying it was a place where the homeless community could receive services and healthcare from advocates. The Helfrich administration arranged trash pickup at either end of the encampment stretching along the Codorus Creek.
Some of the tents at the encampment were outfitted with improvised amenities such as outhouses, hotplates and other items.
On April 28, the York Daily Record reported that Springettsbury Township had ordered the closure by May 9 of a smaller homeless encampment off Industrial Highway east of York.
The city’s announcement also came one day before Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was scheduled to visit the former Dentsply site on West College Avenue, adjacent to the homeless camp. The city redevelopment authority acquired the 17.3-acre site in December 2023 with the hope of converting the former industrial site into a mixed-use development that would include affordable housing and retail and office space. Shapiro was expected to announce new state investment into such developments, but a news conference scheduled for April 30 was postponed.
In the weeks leading up to the closure date, York City outreach teams will engage with individuals currently residing in encampments, provide information on available services such as shelter and case management, and offer multiple opportunities for assistance before closures occur, according to the release.
On June 2, city teams will conduct coordinated encampment closures, followed by site cleanup and sanitation, ongoing monitoring to prevent re-encampment, and continued outreach efforts as needed, the release said.
“This is not a one-day action,” Walker said in the release. “This is a deliberate, coordinated, and respectful process.”
The city said it remains committed to maintaining safe and accessible public spaces, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness through coordinated outreach, and ensuring clear communication and accountability at every stage, according to the release. After closures, the city plans to maintain an ongoing presence in affected areas to keep them safe, clean and accessible to the public.
