The following is a letter by Superintendent Greg Hudon and City Manager Thomas A. Golden Jr. This was published in The Sun on Sunday, March 9.
The City of Lowell and Lowell Police Department, in response to numerous complaints from residents, business owners, and schools, are utilizing a multi-pronged approach to address issues related to homelessness in the city.
Efforts to Address Homelessness
Efforts began during the pandemic, when the City of Lowell allocated a significant portion of COVID-19 relief funds to address homelessness with new programs and services, including approximately $6.5 million in total state and federal funds to support initiatives to help the city’s homeless population.
Those funds included a $2 million investment for CTI’s housing programs for an emergency shelter for women in Lowell and 19 new units of new permanent supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Between the many pass-through state and federal funding sources, this City Council has allocated several hundred thousand dollars to local nonprofits that operate homeless prevention and intervention programs. Grants to the Elliott Church, Lowell Transitional Living Center, House of Hope, and to the Megan’s House, among many other critical programs in Lowell have made our partners in the non-profit sector stronger and more well equipped to provide services.
Despite that spending, the city’s homeless population has continued to fluctuate, reaching approximately 250 individuals in 2025.
The Impact of Growing Challenges
As the homeless population has grown, so have the number of complaints received by Lowell Police about trespassing, drug use, public urination and defecation, and other public order offenses. For instance, complaints about trespassing have increased from 519 complaints in 2021, to 1,369 complaints in 2024, a more than 150% increase.
In 2024, the Lowell Police Department made a total of 660 arrests of individuals who identified themselves as being homeless. Of those arrests, 67% were for court-issued warrants; officers do not have discretion in these instances and must arrest when an arrest warrant is confirmed. It should also be noted that just 48 individuals accounted for over 250 of the 660 arrests; or nearly 40 percent.
As is the case with many complaints about trespassing and other issues, officers who respond to these incidents are often able to resolve them without resorting to making arrests. For example, of the 1,369 complaints about trespassing in 2024, only 164 resulted in an arrest.
A Holistic, Compassionate Response
While the department is responding to more complaints, and conducting directed patrols based on these complaints, they continue participating in the City’s CO-OP Team, which visits homeless individuals and encampments daily in an effort to connect the unhoused to housing assistance programs, substance use disorder programs, and mental health supports.
Additionally, the Lowell Police Neighborhood Response Unit joins the CO-OP Team and other city stakeholders every Friday as they visit the area of the South Common to provide outreach to unhoused individuals. Lowell Police are also represented every Tuesday when city stakeholders meet to discuss issues with the homeless population and how they can be supported and connected with resources.
Our Commitment to the Community
Late last year, as a result of a continued increase in complaints about homeless individuals camping, using drugs, and going to the bathroom in public spaces, the City Council passed an ordinance banning camping on public property in Lowell. This ordinance was passed to complement ongoing outreach efforts, not to replace them.
While officers are enforcing the ordinance, no arrests have been made to date, as we continue to prioritize engagement and resource connection over punitive measures.
The Lowell Police Department recognizes that arrest and prosecution are not the solution to the homelessness crisis, but that collaboration and community involvement are key components to addressing this complex issue.
The Lowell Police Department is dedicated to addressing quality of life issues with the department’s core values in mind. Among those core values is respect for the communities we serve.
The City of Lowell and the Lowell Police Department are committed to maintaining respect and compassion for those who are unhoused. We believe that it is only with a multi-pronged approach that the city can make progress on reducing complaints from residents, businesses and schools, and improving the quality of life in Lowell for all who call the city home.
Sincerely,
Lowell City Manager Thomas A. Golden Jr.
Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon