Mayor says outreach reduced Norfolk Southern encampment count from 75 to 53; many accept offers of assistance
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Summary
Mayor Reynolds reported outreach to people living on Norfolk Southern property: city and nonprofits reduced the estimated population from 75 in September to 53 at a recent count; many have accepted housing assistance or moved on, while a portion remain uninterested in offers.
Mayor Reynolds provided an update on unsheltered individuals living on Norfolk Southern property, reporting a decline in the counted population and ongoing outreach.
The mayor said a September count recorded 75 people in the area; a health‑bureau visit last week recorded 53, a reduction of 22. The administration and partner nonprofits have conducted outreach and case work to determine interests and needs. Of a sample group discussed earlier, the mayor said 55 of 72 individuals had indicated an interest in shelter or services at a prior outreach; by contrast, roughly 23 of 73 said they had no interest at that time.
“Some of those individuals have been able to get long term housing,” the mayor said, adding that others have left and that the city does not always know where people have gone. He emphasized that a subset of people decline assistance, and that outreach will continue. Staff and nonprofit partners are conducting regular visits and case‑management work to connect willing individuals with services.
The mayor said Norfolk Southern had set a date roughly two months after the meeting for a property action, and the city is continuing outreach and coordination with nonprofits in the interim. He thanked the health bureau, police and nonprofit partners for repeated outreach efforts.