Administration: city lacks suitable owned sites for safe camping; recommends regional approach

City administration presented a preliminary feasibility analysis on safe camping and safe parking in Allentown, concluding that the city does not currently own a site that meets the report's criteria and that operating costs and legal exposure would be significant.

The report, prepared with the Allentown Health Bureau, surveyed city-owned property using criteria provided by the Regional Advisory Board and the City Commission on Homelessness (flat, deforested land proximate to services). The administration concluded that sites that appear promising from the street are often former industrial lots with contaminated soils and therefore unsuitable.

Mayor Matt Turk briefed council that the city secured temporary capacity at the YMCA to help with an early-opening shelter and that the short-term solution space is limited because nonprofit organizational capacity in Allentown is currently insufficient to operate a large safe camping program. "The city does not presently own a suitable safe camping or safe parking site within its existing inventory," the mayor said.

The report identified a broad range of uncertainty around costs; as an example, the law department provided a rough estimate that potential legal expenditures could be between $500,000 and $845,000. The administration recommended a deeper study, including engaging a professional site-selection firm or real-estate broker to evaluate properties beyond the city's inventory.

Councilmembers pushed on regional coordination and timelines. Councilmember Gerlach asked whether a county-owned former corrections/work-release facility could be repurposed; city staff responded that some county sites lack proximate services and would require additional investment to be suitable. The mayor emphasized the need for Lehigh County, Northampton County and other Lehigh Valley municipalities to participate. "This problem will not go away," he said, arguing any sustainable solution should be regional and equitable.

The report also noted that some local organizations are exploring pallet-home or tiny-home approaches and that zoning changes may be needed to legitimize alternate shelter models. The administration said it is discussing next steps with nonprofit and regional partners, and indicated interest in convening regional elected officials and bringing in subject-matter practitioners for targeted advice in October.

Council did not take formal action on the report at the meeting; members asked staff to continue work with the Regional Homelessness Advisory Board and with local nonprofits to examine site options, cost estimates and governance models for any future program.