Residents and advocates urge delay to Jordan Meadows encampment eviction; council schedules committee meeting on unhoused issues

Dozens of residents, service providers and advocates urged Allentown City Council on Aug. 6 to postpone the planned clearance of the Jordan Meadows encampment and to develop alternatives for people living there.

Speakers said the encampment along Fourth and Green — described by multiple commenters as home to more than 100 people — was being cleared with too little notice and no viable relocation options. Council leadership announced a committee of the whole meeting for Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. to review Bill 72 and discuss issues related to people experiencing homelessness.

Why this matters: Commenters said the proposed removal — publicized as happening on Aug. 25 — would displace vulnerable residents with no guaranteed shelter or supports and risk public health and safety. Several advocates offered concrete proposals, including temporary safe camping sites modeled on recent efforts in other Pennsylvania cities and a volunteer-built microcommunity proposal called the Hope Homestead Sanctuary.

Street-medicine clinicians, outreach workers and people who live in the encampment told council members their primary concerns were lack of notice, no transitional housing options and the loss of trust between outreach teams and residents.

"Forcibly moving somebody from their encampment ultimately will worsen…