Minneapolis meeting addresses homelessness
A Minneapolis town hall was held Thursday to discuss homeless safety and violence that occurs in homeless encampments.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – City leaders and residents gathered in Minneapolis Thursday for a town hall to discuss what to do about the safety of homeless neighbors and camps.
In recent weeks to months, there has been one a series of shootings in these camps. The discussion revolved around how to better provide services for these communities.
“The camps and people who were moved and pushed out of the camps by the police,” said Ray Johnson, who came to City Hall out of curiosity.
Johnson is concerned about homeless camps. So he wanted to see what Ward 8 Councilwoman Andrea Jenkins had to say to combat what the homeless face.
Jenkins has had a series of discussions, starting with think tanks. Resident Peter Zeftel thought it was important to listen to the discussion.
“We have to treat people like people. Evicting people, making them move from place to place, that doesn’t help anyone,” Zeftel said.
Zeftel says that when homeless people pack up and move to another camp, getting resources can be problematic.
“People lose contact with social service providers, they lose contact with caseworkers, they lose their identification,” says Zeftel.
At the meeting, Jenkins had other council members talk about what ordinances they are working on to solve problems that don’t remain.
After the recent shootings, Jenkins is looking at ideas like security for the camps and neighborhoods.
She also took questions from those in attendance to get feedback on what to do. There’s one thing she can’t wrap her head around.
“For people living in the camps, I would imagine it’s terrifying. Sometimes people say they feel safer in these camps than they do in shelters. But I don’t hear people being shot in shelters, and a lot of people being shot in camps “, Jenkins said.
Jenkins hopes people can come together to help solve some of these problems. Drug problems in camps were also discussed, in addition to addiction resources that are out there.
