Costly solutions to squatting faced by City of Shreveport to address ongoing issue

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Shreveport City leaders say illegal squatting isn’t just about trespassing it’s a public safety issue. Councilman Grayson Boucher says while arrests are often made, more action needs to be taken.

“The ongoing squatter issues that we have. One issue that we, talked about, in depth was a, possible wraparound services because these, these squatters are being arrested, but they’re coming straight back to where, where they were before,” said District D City Councilman Grayson Boucher.

Boucher says wrap-around services and partnerships with local nonprofits are part of the plan to curb squatter-related crime, but the added help isn’t always accepted.

“They’ll take it, but in some cases, like the police chief said, they, they really don’t want our help.” said Boucher.

Security measures, such as boarding up abandoned homes, were discussed, but Boucher says it would cost the city thousands.

“That would mean boarding it up, but that’s gonna be at the, at the cost of the city… unfortunately right now, the city has, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars that’s owed to us by property owners,” said Boucher.

Police Chief Wayne Smith says enforcement is present, but the problem of squatters is widespread.

“We have literally hundreds of sightings across our entire city where people are actually calling and telling us about that kind of suspected activities,” said Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith.

City officials say they will continue to review and update the ordinance as needed for enforcement.