A disturbing early morning encounter on 10th Street has once again underscored Portsmouth’s growing struggles with homelessness, untreated mental illness, and overwhelmed rehab services.
Just before 7 a.m., residents spotted a suspicious woman in an alley, reportedly trying to get into a garage. By the time police arrived, she had moved to the porch of a nearby home.
Officers quickly recognized the woman — a familiar face in Portsmouth’s ongoing public health crisis. Known to law enforcement for multiple arrests, erratic behavior, and frequent trespassing, she’s been banned from local businesses and even barred from several area rehab facilities due to repeated disruptive incidents.
When confronted, the woman claimed she lived at the house where she was found. But the homeowner told police that wasn’t true. He declined to press charges but asked officers to have her removed from his property.
Before leaving, a nearby neighbor approached police with a chilling warning: “Next time, I won’t call you. I’ll handle it myself.”
That drew a firm response from the officer, who reminded him — and his bodycam — that vigilante justice is not the answer, no matter how frustrating the situation becomes.
🧠 A Symptom of a Bigger Problem
This isn’t just about one woman on one porch.
Portsmouth, like many towns across Appalachia, is struggling to manage the consequences of:
Underfunded mental health care
An explosion of short-term, unregulated rehab facilities
A rising unhoused population with nowhere safe to go
Local officials and residents alike are growing weary as repeat encounters with the same individuals strain both police resources and public patience.
⚖️ What’s Being Done?
Local police often act as the first and only responders for individuals in mental health crisis.
Rehab and treatment centers—often brought in from out-of-town—frequently discharge patients without housing, further burdening Portsmouth streets.
Residents have expressed a growing sense of helplessness, unsure whether to call 911 or simply stay silent until something worse happens.
🏚️ A Boiling Point?
What happened on 10th Street is happening on porches, in alleys, and behind stores all over the city. The line between nuisance and danger is growing thin, and so is the community’s tolerance.
Without real investment in mental health care, shelter space, and long-term recovery support, officers will continue playing babysitter, neighbors will continue feeling powerless — and vulnerable individuals will continue slipping through the cracks.
Because when the system fails, people don’t just fall — they land on someone else’s doorstep.
