A string of police calls over the weekend has once again drawn attention to Portsmouth’s growing homelessness crisis — a situation that city officials are attempting to address with the formation of a dedicated Homeless Task Force.
In just over 48 hours, Portsmouth Police responded to numerous incidents involving individuals without stable shelter — many of whom also appeared to be struggling with mental health issues or addiction.
ATM Lobby Turned Bedroll
The weekend began early Sunday morning, just after 3 a.m., when PNC Bank security called police to report someone sleeping in the ATM lobby. Officers found a homeless woman using the small space as a temporary shelter. She was told to move along — and warned she could face criminal charges if she returned.
Sleeping in Cars and Parks
Later that afternoon, just after 2 p.m., police were dispatched to a vehicle parked outside a local homeless shelter where two people were reportedly passed out. Officers found a man and woman inside — both recently kicked out of their home and trying to sleep in their car.
Only minutes later, another call came from Tracy Park, where a woman was passed out on a bench. Officers arrested her for disorderly conduct — a charge she had faced before, along with a criminal trespassing conviction from the previous fall.
Mental Health in the Streets
By Sunday night, the crisis shifted from sleep to behavior. Just after 10 p.m., a man was reported yelling unintelligibly on a dark corner of 7th Street. Officers said the man appeared to be suffering from a mental health episode and asked him to leave the area.
Simultaneously, another call came in from Boundary Street about a man screaming for hours. Police recognized the individual and noted ongoing mental health concerns. They asked him to quiet down but took no further action.
Knife Call Turns Out to Be Screwdriver
In the early hours of Monday morning, police received a report of a homeless woman seen carrying a knife at 7th and Campbell. Officers found the woman — someone they say they’ve had many previous encounters with — and determined she was carrying only a small screwdriver. She didn’t appear to be under the influence.
More Park Incidents
By Monday afternoon, Tracy Park once again became a focus. At 1 p.m., someone reported a shirtless man lying face-down in the grass. He had left before police arrived.
An hour later, officers were called to the Esplanade downtown, where a man was seen stumbling and later slumped over on a bench. Officers said the man didn’t appear impaired but advised him to move along anyway.
The Bigger Picture
These incidents are not isolated. They represent just a weekend snapshot of what has become a daily concern in Portsmouth — individuals without homes, struggling with addiction or mental illness, and cycling through temporary public spaces and police interactions.
As these calls mount, Portsmouth city leaders are continuing efforts to assemble a Homeless Task Force to tackle the issue head-on. The goal is to bring together law enforcement, mental health professionals, recovery advocates, and housing specialists to find solutions that go beyond simply moving people along.
With warmer weather here and more people living unsheltered, the need for compassionate, coordinated response is more urgent than ever. The city’s challenge now is not just managing the crisis — but addressing its root causes.
