Homelessness emergency and services
Unsheltered homelessness has risen sharply in Lehigh County (including reported large percentage increases in point-in-time counts), with encampment clearances in Allentown and Bethlehem highlighting the crisis. County Executive Josh Siegel planned or declared a countywide homelessness disaster/emergency, advanced a strategic plan for transitional housing (including potential tiny-home communities on county land), permanent supportive housing with services, and related budget investments, linking the issue tightly to housing production and human services capacity.
What approach should Lehigh County take on rising homelessness?
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Sources
Lehigh Daily / Josh Siegel — https://lehighdaily.com/josh-siegel-proposes-sales-tax-study-homelessness-emergency-ice-limits-in-state-of-the-county-address/
Josh Siegel proposes sales tax study, homelessness emergency, ICE limits in State of the County address
The Morning Call — https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/11/election-2025-lehigh-executive/
Homelessness: Sharp rises in unsheltered counts (e.g., 91% increase in one recent point-in-time)
City & State PA — https://www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/2025/12/lessons-lehigh-interview-county-executive-elect-josh-siegel/410142/
permanent supportive housing with services
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Declare emergency, fund tiny-home villages, expansive supportive housing, and halt most encampment clearances
- Invest in transitional and permanent supportive housing plus services while coordinating clearances humanely
- Expand shelter capacity and case management moderately, pairing outreach with clear public-space rules
- Focus on temporary shelters and treatment referrals while enforcing anti-camping rules more consistently
- Minimize new housing outlays, prioritize law enforcement clearances, and direct people to existing nonprofits