NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As New Orleans gears up to host Super Bowl LIX next month, state authorities led by Republican Governor Jeff Landry have initiated a controversial sweep of homeless encampments in the vicinity of the Caesars Superdome. This action follows a tragic January 1 attack that claimed 14 lives and has been framed by Landry as a necessary security measure for the city.

The sweep, which has drawn significant criticism and is viewed by some as undermining the city's efforts to tackle homelessness, involves relocating individuals to a temporary warehouse facility miles away. This location is estimated to cost around $16.2 million to operate over a 90-day period, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Landry stated that the move is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, asserting, “It is in the best interest of every citizen’s safety and security to give the unhoused humane and safe shelter...” The Independent reported that state police began issuing “relocation notices” to individuals residing in a large encampment under an underpass near the stadium. These notices warned that non-compliance could result in legal consequences.

On the day of the sweep, authorities offered individuals transportation to the transitional center, which has the capacity for up to 200 residents. As of Wednesday evening, 131 individuals had taken refuge there, with officials noting it provides essential services including meals, bedding, and medical care.

However, many homeless individuals, such as Ray Cooper, expressed rejection of the state’s offer, drawing comparisons between being relocated to a warehouse and being treated like a package: “That just turned me off — we’re going to a warehouse? I’m not a UPS package or anything like that, I’m a human,” he emphasized.

Critics of the plan assert that this approach is merely a temporary fix, with a letter signed by various community organizations—including the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana—expressing skepticism about the plan’s long-term efficacy and its substantial costs. As stated by Martha Kegel, the head of UNITY, a local organization focused on ending homelessness, “Evidence-based best practices for ending homelessness are centered on permanent housing with supportive services.”

Governor Landry's strategy also indicates that while individuals with jobs will be prioritized for housing assistance, those who are considered to have "means" may be offered bus or train tickets out-of-state, although specific details remain uncertain according to The Hill.

Further complicating matters, the city of New Orleans is taking a different approach, advocating for comprehensive long-term housing solutions. They have requested state funding to aid these efforts, emphasizing that state-led sweeps create obstacles to providing adequate and timely services to the city's estimated 1,500 homeless individuals.

As tensions rise and the Super Bowl approaches, the need for a permanent solution to homelessness looms large over the city's preparations. The unfolding situation remains a focal point of discourse among city officials, advocates, and the public.