Allentown council urges halt to encampment sweep, presses administration for answers

Allentown City Council passed a resolution April 15 urging the city and county administrations to address a crisis created by the posting of an encampment sweep after the warming shelter closed, and it approved two separate motions asking the administration for faster, clearer action.

Managing Director Kane told council members the administration has a draft encampment policy focused on life-safety considerations, has identified $50,000 to help with short-term hoteling, plans a grant-based distribution process and is working with the county on potential land for a safe site. Kane said the draft would include notification to the Department of Health, the mayor’s office and public works and that council would be informed.

Councilmember Cece Gerlach introduced the resolution and then moved a separate motion asking the administration to stop the scheduled evacuation of the Fountain Park encampment planned for April 20. After public comment from shelter residents and advocates, councilmembers added a friendly amendment asking that the mayor communicate his decision by Friday. The motion passed unanimously.

Councilmember Jeremy Bender later moved — and the council approved — a separate directive instructing city staff to work with Councilmember Gerlach and the Allentown Commission on Homelessness to develop oversight and a reporting process for how the administration manages encampment procedures; the motion requires updates at each council meeting until a full plan is established.

Public commenters described immediate risks if the encampment closes with short notice. Vanessa Cornier of Hope Homestead Sanctuary asked how many people the $50,000 would help and whether it could cover hoteling costs; she said, “a hotel room for a week is 400 or more.” Swain Flack, a resident who said he spent time at the Y shelter, asked, “What do we do? Please. You have people that can’t even walk.” Multiple speakers said 10 days’ notice is inhumane and urged 30 days or other longer notice periods so residents can move safely and preserve belongings.

Councilmembers voiced parallel concerns about communication and the policy’s language. Gerlach said the draft’s 10-day notice raised “serious concerns” and asked for clearer definitions of “flood-prone” versus “flood plain” and quarterly reporting that she later said should be at every council meeting. Vice President Mota, Council President Pongo and others said the city must improve how the administration notifies council and providers before encampment actions occur.

Kane said the administration supports the goals of the resolution, acknowledged communication problems around the recent posting, and described a real-estate inventory and other steps to seek safe sites. He said a draft policy exists and the mayor intends to sign it when final.

The council voted 7-0 to approve Resolution R57. Council members and advocates emphasized that the council’s votes and motions are advisory: under Allentown’s strong-mayor system, the administration must make operational decisions. Councilmembers said they expected follow-up conversations with the mayor and the managing director and asked for concrete timelines for assistance to people at the encampment.

What happens next: Council required that staff work with the homelessness commission to provide meeting-by-meeting updates until a plan is in place, and it asked the mayor to communicate a decision about the April 20 sweep by Friday. The council’s actions do not, by themselves, halt administrative operations; the motions and resolution express the council’s urgency and expectations.