In Minneapolis, city leaders struggle with a sudden homeless encampment – Twin Cities

When a disturbed woman pulled a knife on Denise Deer earlier this month, she quickly took her children to their tent. A close man intervened and the woman was arrested. A few minutes later, 8-year-old Shilo and 4-year-old Koda were back on the sidewalk, playing with a train and swallowing treats delivered by volunteers.

The sprawling homeless camp just south of downtown Minneapolis is not the place where Deer wanted his family to be six, but did not suspect his mother-in-law. "

City leaders have been reluctant to break what is believed to be the largest homeless camp ever seen in Minneapolis, where the ban climate has generally discouraged larger settlements seen elsewhere. However, two deaths in recent weeks and concerns about the disease, drugs and the coming winter have increased the pressure to find a solution.

"Housing is a right," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "We will continue to work as hard as possible to ensure that the people of our city are guaranteed."

Up to 300 people gathered in the camp that took root this summer next to an expressway at the intersection of Franklin and Hiawatha avenues. During the Associated Press' s visit earlier this month, colorful tents and a few tipis were lined up, sometimes to centimeters apart and at three depths. Bicycles, coolers or small toys were close to some tents and some people had put clothes in the air.

Most residents are Native Americans. The camp – called the "Forgotten Aboriginals Wall" because it stands against a highway wall – is in a part of the city where there is a high concentration of Amerindians and organizations helping them . Some noted that the tents were on what was once the land of Dakota.

"They came to a region, a geography long identified as part of the Aboriginal community. Many camp residents feel at home, they feel safer, "said Robert Lilligren, vice president of Indian metropolitan directors.

The camp illuminates some of the issues facing American Indians in Minneapolis. They represent 1.1% of residents in Hennepin County, but 16% of unprotected homeless people, according to an April count. According to data from the state health department, opioids are harder hit by opioids, with Amerindians being five times more likely to die of overdose than whites.

One end of the camp seemed to be family oriented, while the adults – some of whom were visibly tall – were at the other end. In the middle, a group called Natives Against Heroin operated a tent where volunteers distributed bottles of water, food and clothing. The group also gives drug users clean needles and sharps containers, and volunteers carrying naloxone to treat overdoses.

"People are respectful," said group founder James Cross. "But sometimes, an addict will go away … We have to defuse. Do not hurt them, just escort them. And say, "Hey, it's a family setting, it's a community, we have children, elders, we have to make it safe."

With dozens of people living within inches of each other, health officials also fear an epidemic of infectious diseases such as hepatitis A. Health professionals have begun administering vaccines. In recent weeks, a woman died while she had no asthma inhaler and a man died of a drug overdose.

For now, the service agencies have set up zones so that camp residents can receive medical care, antibiotics, hygiene kits or other supplies. There is a free advertising station for HIV testing, a place to request housing and temporary showers. Portable toilets and hand sanitation stations were also installed.

But city officials know it's not sustainable, especially as winter approaches. At an emergency meeting on Wednesday, City Council approved a plan to use land owned primarily by the Red Lake Nation as a "navigation center" site, which will include shelter and services. temporary.

As the buildings are to be demolished, this site may not be ready until early December, with at least one board member. But Sam Strong, from the Red Lake Nation, said the process could be speeded up. Once the camp residents are safe for the winter, the goal will be to find more stable and long-term housing. Several families have already been moved to shelters.

Bear La Ronge Jr., 47, settled in the camp after gaining full custody of his three children and realized that he could not live along the railroad tracks where he was staying. For several weeks, he saw the city of tents expand and would like drug addicts to be removed.

"This place is so incorporated with drugs, needles are everywhere," said La Ronge. He showed a cardboard box outside his tent that contained toys. "I get up every morning and look in my toy box. There are five open needles there because people are passing and putting their needles in my children's toys. So I have to go elsewhere.

Angela Brown, 32, has been homeless for years. She moved into the tent city with her 4-month-old daughter, Raylynn, when it seemed like her last option.