University encampment sweep prompts city town hall, calls for shelter options

Residents at the Ward 1 meeting described recent notices from the University of Arkansas about an upcoming sweep of encampments on university-owned land behind the 7 Hills area and near New Beginnings. Participants said the university’s timeline left little time for outreach and rehousing.

Council Member Bob Stafford said the city learned about the sweep at roughly the same time as the public and that community groups — including shelters and a grassroots organization active in outreach — were trying to coordinate responses. “We didn't get any any real notice is my understanding. And so we found out the same time as everybody else,” Stafford said.

Stafford said social-service providers and the mayor’s office were working with partner organizations and that the mayor planned a town hall for Sunday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to provide information and receive input. “They’ve offered for social workers to serve,” Stafford said of the meeting.

Why it matters: residents and advocates said they were concerned the university could pursue criminal trespass charges and that clearing encampments without an available shelter network would displace people without alternatives. Stafford urged constituents to contact the university and state representatives and said city community resources officers would be involved in outreach.

Policy context and proposals: participants discussed sanctuary camping as a possible temporary model — a city-owned site with basic services — and criticized existing local ordinances that, in their view, can criminalize homelessness. Stafford said the city had previously debated an anti-camping ordinance and that sanctuary camping would require staffing, toilets and support services.

Ending: The transcript records no enforcement actions by city police; Stafford said he planned to follow up with University and police leadership and encouraged residents to attend the mayor’s town hall for more information. No formal city policy change or funding commitment is recorded in the meeting transcript.