Shreveport’s Homeless Rate Per Capita Higher Than Washington, D.C., Mission Director Says

SHREVEPORT, La. – Shreveport’s homeless crisis is worse than the nation’s capital when measured per capita, according to Larry Otwell, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission.

Otwell says the issue isn’t new — and relocating homeless individuals has been a long-standing practice in the city.

Relocation Without Solutions

“Unfortunately, we’ve been doing this for probably six to eight years,” Otwell said, referring to moving homeless encampments out of high-traffic areas. “We’ve been moving people out of the city for tourism and businesses. I understand why — it’s crime, panhandling, and all that. But if we don’t fix the problem, we’re just kind of kicking the can down the road.”

The problem, he added, is that relocation simply shifts the burden to other communities without addressing the underlying causes of homelessness.

Impact of Budget Cuts

Otwell pointed to years of budget reductions as a major reason for the current crisis, saying those cuts have eliminated critical programs designed to help people break the cycle of homelessness.

Many of these programs, he noted, addressed root causes such as mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of access to treatment. Without them, the pathway to stability for many individuals has been lost.

Programs Offering a Path Forward

Despite limited resources, the Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission continues to operate a range of programs to assist those in need. These include:

Seven-Day Emergency Program – Providing immediate shelter, meals, and basic needs.
One-Year New Beginnings Program – A long-term rehabilitation program aimed at helping participants overcome addiction, build job skills, and transition to stable housing.

“I think things ought to be required so that people get better and get healed,” Otwell said. “Our doors are always open.”

Funding Through Community Support

The Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission is 100% donor funded, relying entirely on contributions from individuals, businesses, and community organizations.

Otwell stressed that lasting change requires both public investment and community involvement, noting that while relocation may temporarily remove homelessness from sight, it does nothing to solve the problem.

Shreveport’s higher per capita homelessness rate compared to Washington, D.C., he said, should be a wake-up call for the city to address the crisis through sustainable, solutions-driven policies rather than short-term measures.