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On July 24, former President Donald Trump signed a sweeping new Executive Order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets.” The order aims to change how cities and states address homelessness—but its long-term effects remain to be seen.

For Waterbury and cities like it, this order raises big questions about the future of housing, policing, public health, and the role of federal influence in local decisions.

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What the Executive Order Proposes

The order outlines a five-part strategy that moves away from supportive services and toward enforcement-based solutions. Here’s what it calls for:

1. Increased policing of “urban camping,” loitering, and squatting—laws that have historically targeted vulnerable populations, particularly Black Americans.
2. Federal law enforcement support for encampment removals, allowing cities and states to request help in clearing out unhoused individuals.
3. Potential prosecution of harm reduction programs like needle exchanges and street-level medical outreach.
4. Civil commitment policies, which could allow authorities to detain unhoused people involuntarily under the justification of mental illness or substance use.
5. Redirection of federal funds away from “Housing First” programs in favor of more punitive or institutional approaches.

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Why This Matters for Waterbury

Waterbury has faced its share of challenges with homelessness—from visible encampments along the Naugatuck River to the quieter realities of housing insecurity across the city. Local nonprofits, shelters, and city departments have spent years developing solutions rooted in outreach, community partnerships, and housing-first principles.

Now, this executive order may pressure local governments to take a different path—one that emphasizes enforcement over services. While no changes have been made yet, the potential for future federal funding shifts or public pressure could steer policy toward criminalization instead of support.

This could put Waterbury’s existing efforts at a crossroads.

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Looking Ahead: What to Expect

At this point, no federal funding or local laws have changed. But the order sends a clear message: future federal dollars may prioritize cities that adopt tougher stances on homelessness.

It’s unclear how this will affect Waterbury’s budget, policing practices, or nonprofit partnerships. Federal agencies still need congressional approval to change funding rules, and states and cities still control their own housing policies.

Still, local leaders may face tough decisions. Should they align with the executive order’s approach in hopes of increased funding? Or should they double down on local strategies that focus on housing, mental health care, and harm reduction?

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What’s at Stake

While the executive order frames homelessness as a crisis of crime and disorder, data tells a more complex story:

• Only 16% of unhoused people report chronic substance use.
• Only 21% report severe mental illness.
• Most people experiencing homelessness are victims of a broken housing market—not criminals.

Waterbury, like many cities, struggles with a lack of affordable housing. Federal reports show the U.S. has a shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes. A minimum-wage worker in Connecticut cannot afford a modest 1-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30% of their income.

If federal policies shift away from creating housing and toward policing behavior, many experts fear this could make homelessness less visible—but not less real.

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A Community Decision Ahead

As this executive order begins to shape the national conversation, Waterbury will need to decide how it responds. This is an opportunity for residents, advocates, city leaders, and service providers to come together, evaluate the facts, and choose a path that reflects local values.

The city’s approach to homelessness in the coming years may serve as a model—for better or worse.

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This article was produced by The Waterbury Times Civic Media Desk. It was written and reviewed by a human editorial team with the assistance of generative AI tools for clarity and structure. All facts were independently sourced and verified.