Enterprise leaders and metropolis officers in Savannah, Georgia — typically described as one in all America’s most picturesque locations, recognized for its Spanish moss-draped oaks, waterfront views and ornate ironwork — say they’re working to reclaim components of the historic metropolis from rising homelessness, encampments and public security issues.
“We now have seen the current articles detailing a customer’s expertise in our metropolis and the seen challenges posed by homelessness, vagrancy, and associated public security issues in our historic public squares and public areas,” a joint assertion supplied to Fox Information Digital by the Metropolis of Savannah, the Savannah Chamber and the Savannah Tourism Management Council mentioned.
Whereas the teams pushed again on some protection as “designed to generate clicks by sensationalizing points,” they acknowledged the issues are actual and more and more seen to residents, enterprise homeowners and vacationers.
Savannah Space Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bert Brantley mentioned the influence is felt each day throughout the enterprise neighborhood.
“Our companies, staff, and downtown residents count on our public security system to determine these committing crimes and ship penalties for these unlawful actions,” Brantley mentioned in November 2024.
Homelessness stays a high concern for chamber members. Forward of Savannah-Chatham Day in February 2026, Brantley known as it “such an vital situation,” whereas Mayor Van Johnson mentioned metropolis leaders are pursuing state-backed options to deal with ongoing challenges, in response to WJCL.
Metropolis officers have more and more turned to enforcement measures.
In June 2025, WJCL reported on town’s proposed city tenting ordinance, which metropolis officers mentioned would make it illegal to camp, retailer private property or get in the best way of visitors.
Savannah handed an city tenting ordinance prohibiting tenting, storing private property in public areas and obstructing sidewalks or visitors.
“I don’t assume there’s a single particular person on this council that believes we must always criminalize homelessness,” Alderman Kurtis Purtee instructed WJCL on the time. “However we now have to determine a strategy to begin working collectively as a neighborhood, whereas holding folks accountable for his or her actions.”
Johnson described the ordinance as “one other software within the toolbox,” including that some people “repeatedly engaged in prison exercise” require a distinct response.
For the reason that legislation took impact, town says enforcement has led to 179 citations and 15 arrests.
Officers additionally report that 135 people have engaged with service suppliers, with roughly 30% coming into shelters after contact with authorities.
Encampments within the historic district have been lowered by about half since 2023, in response to figures supplied by town and companion organizations.
These figures weren’t independently verified by Fox Information Digital.
Past homelessness, authorities say the area can be contending with evolving drug threats.
A February 2026 News4Jax report on a DEA-led initiative, “Operation Fentanyl Free America,” highlighted shifting trafficking patterns in Southeast Georgia, together with methamphetamine being transported in liquid kind earlier than conversion.
DEA Assistant Particular Agent in Cost Drew Mayer mentioned crystal meth stays “essentially the most prevalent drug” within the area by quantity.
“Drug smugglers are robust. They’re not going with no struggle. We’ve seen a rise in strategies to cover and disguise the a great deal of medicine with cowl hundreds, transporting a few of the medicine in a liquid kind and different inventive manners to keep away from detention,” Mayer instructed News4Jax.
Whereas fentanyl-related mass overdoses have declined, the drug stays a priority, with officers noting the emergence of “purple fentanyl” in Savannah, Brunswick and alongside the Georgia-Florida hall.
Authorities say trafficking continues by means of the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick, with medicine transferring by means of Atlanta and down the I-95 hall into Southeast Georgia and Florida.
