Tents, tarps, and mattresses are among the materials used by many New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to create makeshift homes for themselves. Yet, the fate of these homes is now unclear, as New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced a new commitment to eliminating homeless encampments throughout the city. This initiative has raised concerns about the plan’s potential to displace homeless people.

After exiting a meeting at the MTA’s downtown Manhattan headquarters, Monica Bartley, manager community organizer at the Center for Independence of the Disabled, accompanied her colleagues on the subway ride back to their office in Union Square. Requiring a wheelchair for her mobility, Bartley was thrilled that a nearby station was equipped with an elevator. Her day took a turn for the worse after getting to her final stop, as she struggled to find any elevators near her office and spent hours meandering around multiple stations and subway lines as she searched.