Just before 4 a.m., Portsmouth officers were called to the Alexandria House Apartments after someone reported strangers sleeping in the building’s common area. Police found several individuals bedding down for the night and ordered them to leave and not return.
This isn’t the first time the apartment complex has seen uninvited guests. As we’ve reported before, Alexandria House — just steps away from Tracy Park — has become a frequent overnight stop for unhoused individuals looking for warmth and shelter. The lobby, like many other publicly accessible spaces in town, is a target once temperatures fall.
Police have increased overnight patrols in Tracy Park itself in recent weeks to deter campers and discourage people from using the area as a public restroom. But the crisis doesn’t end at park boundaries. When the weather turns, those without a place to go move into places like:
- Apartment buildings
- Bank ATM lobbies
- Post offices
- Open stairwells
- Medical building foyers
Even when police respond quickly, it’s often a revolving door: people leave one location only to find shelter at the next.
Despite ongoing issues and repeated calls for help, Portsmouth’s long-promised Homeless Task Force has yet to appear on a City Council agenda. While bamboo ordinances and dog laws see swift attention, solutions to the crisis unfolding on our streets remain stalled.
As winter approaches, the calls are increasing — not just for police, but for real answers.
