A string of bizarre and unsettling incidents overnight and into the early morning hours has once again underscored the growing concerns over Portsmouth’s homeless population — and the city’s ongoing struggle to address it.
Just after 1 a.m., witnesses reported two people near the Offnere Street underpass darting into traffic. Officers searched the area but initially couldn’t locate anyone. About 45 minutes later, police stopped two men riding bicycles without lights at 16th and Offnere. The pair told officers they were staying with family at the nearby 16th Street apartments. They received a warning for the bike violation and were sent on their way.
Then, around 6 a.m., police responded to a report of suspicious activity in a wooded area near the Valero Station on Gallia Street — a spot known as a regular encampment for unhoused individuals. Officers made contact with a man and woman and asked them to move along.
At nearly the same time, officers were called to 7th and Lincoln after someone reported a woman in a purple hoodie “acting crazy.” Although she was not immediately found, officers located her shortly after lying on a corner along Robinson Avenue. Police say the woman appeared to be under the influence of drugs and took her into custody for disorderly conduct — the same charge she had been arrested on just one day prior.
Council Still Debating Homeless Taskforce
These incidents come as Portsmouth City Council continues to weigh the creation of a formal task force to address the city’s troubled homeless population — a growing concern for residents and local businesses alike. While council members have discussed potential partnerships with mental health services, addiction recovery groups, and housing advocates, no official plan has been finalized.
In the meantime, police are often the first — and only — responders to situations involving unhoused individuals in crisis.
Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity but also to support community efforts aimed at creating long-term solutions for those struggling with homelessness, addiction, and mental health issues.
