Norwalk votes against declaring homeless emergency

Mayor Rick Ramirez listens to Sylvester Ani during public comments of the city council meeting on Dec. 6. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK – The Norwalk city council declined to declare a state of emergency over the homelessness crisis in Norwalk during their meeting at city hall on Dec. 6.

A majority of public testimony from the Norwalk Unides social justice group and community members expressed their disapproval for the declaration.

In a letter to the council, they accused them of using “rhetoric surrounding unhoused individuals inaccurately characterized them as broadly dangerous to the public.”

Declaring a crisis would enable the suspension of homeless shelter regulations to create more housing, according to city manager Jesus Gomez.

Sylvester Ani, a community activist, said housing is only part of the solution and the city should do more to help the unhoused.

“If sweeps worked, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Ani said. “That supportive housing needs the type of environment where people can lift themselves up instead of being dehumanized.”

Homelessness increased in Norwalk during the COVID-19 pandemic. The homeless population increased from 168 in 2020, to 311 in 2022, according to the homeless count.

Then-mayor Rick Ramirez said the local activist group were misrepresenting the facts and clarified he is not dehumanizing the unhoused.

“I have met with Norwalk Unides. You guys interviewed me and we spoke, but you’re twisting the truth,” Ramirez said. “Those that want to help people get the help. There are success stories of those who were taken off the streets and are productive members of our society.”

Ramirez acknowledged the solution to helping the unhoused is more than providing shelter and said the city has a goal to provide more services.

The council determined the best course of action was to conduct more outreach and community consensus before moving forward.