Highland residents press Shreveport leaders on squatters, blight after repeated fires

Members of the Highland neighborhood pressed the Shreveport City Public Safety Committee on persistent squatting, drug activity and repeated fires that residents say are destroying historic homes and threatening neighbors.

Speakers from Highland told the committee that absentee ownership, difficulty locating lawful owners and slow enforcement allow squatters to occupy vacant houses and increase fire and crime risk. City Attorney Edwards and Shreveport Police Chief Smith described legal constraints and a new 2024 state statute that gives police an additional criminal tool but requires cooperation from property possessors to activate it.

The issues matter because residents say vacant, blighted properties have caused fires that damaged neighboring homes and left at least one longtime resident homeless. Neighbors urged the city to speed up demolition and enforcement, compile lists of adjudicated properties for redevelopment and pursue both short-term enforcement and long-term redevelopment strategies.

“Th…