Queens, NY (January 26, 2026) — A growing homeless encampment under a Jamaica Avenue overpass in Woodhaven has become a flashpoint in New York City’s debate over how to address street homelessness, as residents and officials clash over safety, sanitation and the city’s approach to enforcement.
The encampment, located near 98th Street beneath the elevated roadway, has expanded in recent months, with mattresses, folded blankets and personal belongings lining the sidewalk and support columns. Sanitation crews recently cleared away piles of trash but left much of the sleeping areas and possessions in place, prompting some neighbors to accuse the city of effectively tidying the site rather than removing it. Residents say the cluster of tents and makeshift beds has turned nearby walkways into semi-permanent living spaces and made it difficult for families and children to pass comfortably.
Local 311 complaints have risen, with at least one resident receiving a response indicating that no encampment was found at the location, a conclusion many in the neighborhood strongly dispute. Neighbors report ongoing sanitation issues, concerns about rodents, and fears about confrontations or unsafe behavior near bus stops and school routes…