Minneapolis, MN
City delays the clearing of a MPLS encampment for the second time in two weeks
The city has delayed clearing a controversial Minneapolis homeless encampment for the second time in two weeks.
It didn’t set a new date but said the closure needs to happen to address ongoing public health and safety issues including a fatal shooting in the encampment Tuesday evening.
Organizers at Camp Nenookaasi in the Phillips neighborhood argue, closing it down will do more harm than good.
Friday afternoon, WCCO’s Ubah Ali went to Camp Nenookaasi and spoke to Bentrell Howze.
The 26-year-old has been moving from one homeless encampment to another for 2 ½ years. He now calls the encampment home.
Howze says although life on the street is tough, he finds hope and help at the encampment.
“The only reason I didn’t find housing before it’s because there was no established camp and there were no housing workers coming there,” Howze said.
Christin Crabtree volunteers as camp organizer, she’s seen for months how collaborations from different agencies make a big difference.
Following deadly shooting, Minneapolis’ Ventura Village homeless encampment closure delayed
“We’ve been able to make sure services can come in so people can connect with their outreach worker,” Crabtree said.
She believes when camps get cleared that can undo weeks of hard work.
David Andrews with the Agate Street Outreach Team says evictions are a big step backward.
“As soon as evictions happen, we tend to lose people they tend to lose items that are essential to getting them housed,” Andrews said.
There’s an estimated 180 people living at the camp. So far, Crabtree says 74 people who had lived there found housing, 52 are scheduled to move into housing in the coming days and 33 decided to go to treatment.
Howze is among those folks moving into housing soon.
“With this camp, it’s easier for them to seek us out and easier for us to get help,” Howze said. “My greatest hope is to have a normal life.”
Despite the complaints from neighbors and nearly 90 recent police calls to the camp, Crabtree wants people to know that things are not perfect because people are people.
As for Tuesday’s deadly shooting at the camp, investigators now say it was self-defense.
Minneapolis, MN
Woman critically injured in shooting near encampment
A woman in her 20s was seriously injured after a shooting near an encampment in Minneapolis on Saturday.
A spokesperson for Minneapolis police said officers responded to the 2800 block of Park Avenue around 6 p.m. on a report of a shooting.
Law enforcement on Park Avenue found evidence of gunfire while the victim was located in an encampment on Columbus Avenue and 28th Street.
She was brought to Hennepin Healthcare for treatment of a life-threatening injury, according to Minneapolis police.
There have been no arrests or word on what led up to the shooting.
Minneapolis, MN
Bridge for Youth begins $700K renovation at Minneapolis shelter spaces
A Minneapolis nonprofit serving homeless youth will begin a $700,000 makeover of two of its shelters this summer, capping a multiyear effort that invited shelter residents into the design process.
The Bridge for Youth provides support services and temporary housing for teens and young parents. Its two emergency shelters, Resilience House and Gloria’s Place, share a building at 1111 W. 22nd St. in Minneapolis. The first phase of demolition is underway, and renovations are set to begin in the coming weeks.
Resilience House provides 24-hour shelter, case management, food and health care for youths ages 10-17. Gloria’s Place is the only emergency shelter in Minnesota for pregnant teens and teen parents ages 15-17; it has space for up to six families.
According to the agency, 50% of young people experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County are pregnant or have children.
The building was purchased and first renovated nearly 16 years ago, Executive Director Lisa Mears said. Since then, it has been “feeling fatigued,” she said. This summer’s renovations will include new flooring, paint and furniture.
Another major reason for the renovation was to incorporate design feedback from current and former shelter residents. The designs are aimed to create spaces “where youth can heal and feel safe” from personal traumatic experiences, Mears said.
In 2021, three Dunwoody College students were brought onto the project to craft designs that would inspire the renovations. Carissa Friendshuh, Marco Salazar and Austin Rastall were fifth-year architecture students who spent about a year working on designs. They interviewed shelter residents, did research and toured the facility.
The students worked to make the facility feel more open and comfortable. Their designs were intentional about lighting, colors and having nooks tucked away for privacy within shared spaces.
“You want to be in a space that’s inviting, that feels safe, that feels secure, but also you’re able to get some freedom in it,” Rastall said. That concept was carried throughout the design decisions, he added.
Salazar said working on the project was a “full circle” moment because his sister was a shelter resident several years ago.
The Legislature last year provided $500,000 for the renovations, and the Bridge added $200,000.
The nonprofit this year campaigned unsuccessfully at the Capitol for $3.5 million to add 15 transitional housing units to a current facility, Marlene’s Place, and 24 non-time limited supportive housing units at a new site. Mears said Bridge officials are discussing their next steps.
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Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis starting to map out locations of cannabis retailers
Minneapolis city leaders are taking steps toward setting rules for cannabis sales.
With licenses expected to be available starting next year, a planning commission is considering where certain types of cannabis businesses can be located in the city. That includes businesses which grow, sell and deliver marijuana.
A current recommendation would ban businesses from operating within 350 feet of K-12 schools, but that distance could increase.
“That’s just showing schools. Again, not showing daycares or parks, or any of those other things that we could space for, but we are not proposing to space for,” said Sara Roman, the Senior City Planner for the City of Minneapolis.
Residents curious about the ongoing discussions can view a presentation about the proposals, and or read the cities’ document.
A zoning plan is expected to be finalized by the end of the summer.
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