Another forced move leaves homeless camp organizers "disgusted by the city of Minneapolis"
MINNEAPOLIS — Two times in the past two days, people living in a controversial homeless encampment in Minneapolis have had to pack up and move.
Camp organizers and supporters stood in front of a new encampment to call out city leaders and share a possible solution.
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'I'm absolutely disgusted by the city of Minneapolis for what they have done," said Nicole Mason, Camp Nenokassi organizer and Ojibwe grandmother. "That they say that we sit at the table and that they would call me if there was an eviction and give me the heads up, shake my hand and promise that to me," Mason said. "And two times now we have not been notified."
Mason is crying foul on the city for once again closing the encampment without a plan. City leaders said it closed the encampment because of public safety concerns and fire hazard fears. Measures were taken to stop the formation of encampments on city-owned lots.
"I'm really saddened that the city would replace us with pieces of concrete on the ground," Mason said. "That's property over people."
Just last week, Mason allowed a WCCO crew inside her yurt. She showed us how they keep warm with wood-burning stoves and cook.
"It's proven facts there's less (overdoses), there's less crime," Mason said.
She says it's where the relatives find safety as they wait for housing vouchers and help with addiction.
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"They have no solution as to where human beings are supposed to go," Mason said. "They're supposed to wander the streets. It's dangerous."
At one point, more than 110 people, mostly Native Americans, called Camp Nenokassi home. Only 60 are in the latest encampment.
Camp organizers say what they need most is for the city to work with the Red Lake Nation and create a healing center to help people get back on their feet.
"I'd like to see the land transfer happen so that we can move as quickly as we can to build this treatment center with lodging for our people."