A growing network of community-led groups and outreach organizations are continuing to support unhoused residents transitioning into stable living conditions, while city, county and state governments are falling short.
By NENOOKAASI COALITION
Fires broke out at two Southside Minneapolis encampments within minutes of each other on January 6, 2025. On a day with below freezing temperatures, over 230 residents of these encampments were left searching for shelter after police cleared the camps.
According to Christin Crabtree, a local organizer who was assisting the response efforts, “at one camp residents were able to put out the fire and police subsequently evicted them. The fire destroyed the other camp and police evicted residents, letting only a few retrieve their belongings. In both cases, outreach and neighbors were prevented by MPD from helping our neighbors move and salvage what little they own.”
A resident who asked to be identified as L stated, “This isn’t the first time that multiple fires broke out around the same time and we were forced to move again. We have been facing constant harassment from strangers who want to do us harm. The source of the fires should really be looked into.” Several organizations provided meals, transportation, warming supplies and other resources, however it proved to still be insufficient given the scale of the need.… Read the rest “Unhoused Residents and Housed Neighbors Respond to Multiple Encampment Fires Amidst Chronic Shortage of Safe Places to Seek Shelter”
Reload document 
Open in new tab 
