President Donald Trump announced plans this week to address homelessness in Washington, D.C., stating that homeless encampments must be cleared immediately. His comments have raised concerns among advocacy groups about the lack of clarity regarding the relocation of individuals experiencing homelessness.

In a social media post on Sunday, Trump told those living on the streets, "We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital." During a press briefing on Monday, he elaborated that the federal government would be removing encampments from parks in D.C. as part of an initiative to improve the city’s image and safety. He described the situation as one of "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse."

Trump emphasized that there are many places for homeless individuals to go, stating, "We're going to help them as much as you can help. But they'll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see."

However, advocates for the homeless have expressed alarm over the vague nature of Trump's remarks. Dana White, advocacy director for Miriam's Kitchen, a nonprofit focused on ending chronic homelessness, noted that the administration's plans lack specifics. "What is particularly startling is the vague language about removing them from the district altogether, without any details about where they would go, who would transport them, how that's funded, what that means for their human and civil rights," White said.

Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, echoed these concerns. He pointed out that while Trump mentioned homelessness multiple times during the press conference, there was no concrete information on how to address the issue. "Our question is, is this the same solution that we've seen with the immigration population? Are people just going to be moved to remote destinations?" Whitehead asked. He described the press conference as lacking substance, suggesting it was more of a publicity stunt than a genuine effort to find solutions.

The two executive orders issued by Trump on Monday did not specifically address homelessness. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that her office had not received further details from the White House regarding the plans. "We really haven't gotten any more detail about the plan, about the words that he said," Bowser said during a press briefing.

According to the Community Partnership, a nonprofit working to prevent homelessness in D.C., there are approximately 798 unhoused individuals on the streets on any given night. In March, Trump signed an executive order aimed at removing homeless encampments from federal land in D.C. Since then, over 70 camps have been dismantled, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Last month, Trump also signed an executive order to facilitate the removal of homeless individuals from the streets and into treatment centers. This order seeks to reverse judicial precedents and redirect federal funds toward programs addressing substance abuse, while also targeting "housing first" policies.

Advocates argue that dismantling encampments is counterproductive. White stated, "When we clear encampments, we disconnect people from the services they need to survive and to start the process of being housed." Whitehead added that without sufficient shelter and affordable housing, individuals will likely re-establish encampments elsewhere.

D.C.'s most recent census of homelessness, released in May, indicated a 9% decrease in homelessness from the previous year, with notable declines among families and single individuals. White emphasized the need for prioritizing funding and policy for single adults experiencing chronic homelessness. "It's certainly a more tense environment, because folks who are unhoused and housing advocates alike don't really know what to expect from this administration," he said.

As the situation develops, organizations like Miriam's Kitchen continue to provide services and prepare for potential changes in policy.