NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The New Orleans City Council held a hearing Wednesday, Nov. 5 for budget proposals from city departments.

The Office of Homeless Services said budget cuts will mean less space in shelters and a return to homeless encampments and an increase in violence.

"We have several incidents where people were beaten, hurt or even killed within the encampment areas, because of the individuals who are there being predatory and coming in to harm those individuals, and we want to avoid that as much as possible," said Nathaniel Fields, Director of Homeless Services

The director of Homeless Services also said that encampments mean a greater need for police, which he says will stretch the New Orleans Police Department's overtime budget.

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