New York City Homeless Deaths Spur Policy Reversal

Mayor Mamdani reinstates encampment sweeps after 18 homeless die in winter cold

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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After 18 homeless people died on the streets of New York City during a recent cold snap, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reversed his previous pledge to stop removing homeless encampments. Mamdani had initially refused to force the homeless off the streets, even as the death toll climbed, citing his belief that removing people from public property is unjust. However, the tragic loss of life has prompted the mayor to reinstate the encampment sweeps, acknowledging that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness or addiction and are unable to make decisions in their own best interest during life-threatening weather conditions.

Why it matters

This case highlights the deadly consequences of allowing the homeless to languish on the streets, especially in severe winter weather. It also raises questions about the efficacy of 'housing first' policies that provide permanent supportive housing without requirements for treatment or self-improvement, as well as the need for stronger involuntary commitment laws and increased psychiatric care capacity to address the root causes of homelessness.

The details

Prior to taking office, Mamdani had pledged to stop removing homeless encampments, a reversal of the policy of his predecessor, Eric Adams. However, the recent spate of deaths, with 18 homeless people dying on the streets during weeks of brutal cold, has prompted Mamdani to change course and reinstate the encampment sweeps. The mayor had initially refused to force the homeless off the streets, even as the death toll climbed, citing his belief that removing people from public property is unjust. But the tragic loss of life has made it clear that this ideology overlooked the reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness or addiction and are unable to make decisions in their own best interest during life-threatening weather conditions.

  • In January, the city opened extra shelters and warming stations and began providing outreach and transportation to the shelters.
  • By the beginning of February, New York City's death toll from cold exposure had already outpaced previous totals for nearly every year between 2010 and 2019.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who initially pledged to stop removing homeless encampments, but has now reversed course and reinstated the encampment sweeps after the tragic deaths of 18 homeless people during a recent cold snap.

Eric Adams

The predecessor of Mayor Mamdani, who had a policy of removing homeless encampments that Mamdani had initially reversed.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness that goes beyond simply providing housing, and instead focuses on addressing the underlying mental health and addiction issues that often drive people to the streets. Policymakers must be willing to make difficult decisions, even if they are unpopular, in order to save lives during extreme weather conditions.