St. Paul leaders say they plans to close down multiple encampments across the city starting with one in Pig’s Eye Park in August.
At least 100 people are estimated to be living there, and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her's office announced in a memo Wednesday that municipal and county teams will spend the next four weeks on-site to connect displaced people with shelter, housing applications, and critical support services.
“I commend the thoughtfulness and compassion our team has brought to centering the human impact of closures since this internal task force launched at the beginning of the year,” said Mayor Kaohly Her. “No matter how we address this issue, which is one of the most significant challenges facing communities across our country, there will be disruption. My sincere intent is that the plan we are announcing today will minimize that impact while helping connect individuals to a safer, more stable life.”
Other encampments will begin shutting down on a rolling basis, in a effort to connect the unhoused with services "well before the onset of winter."
The city is also exploring options for expanding capacity at local shelters.
“Lasting change will come from all of us working together," Mayor Her adds. "It’s going to be hard work, and we invite any community partner and direct service providers who are willing to walk alongside us as we support the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable neighbors and community at large."
Change in approach to public health
The City conducted a comprehensive assessment of encampment conditions and found significant public health and safety concerns requiring action.
Reports documented serious incidents including fires, sexual assaults, thefts, two overdose-related deaths, and other emergencies that put occupants and surrounding communities at risk. In the best interest of safety and stability, the City made the decision to close the encampments.
Closing encampments now, well before the onset of winter, will also help protect residents experiencing homelessness to connect with shelter, housing and supportive services before colder weather increases the risks of living outdoors.
“Every person deserves dignity and a path to housing and support services. The conditions at these sites are not safe, healthy, or humane,” said Cedrick Baker, Assistant Mayor, People and Neighborhood Vitality, leader of the City of Saint Paul’s Unsheltered Response. “None of us would want our loved ones living in those conditions. This is a difficult decision, but leaving people in crisis without intervention is not compassion. We are choosing action that protects people experiencing homelessness and the broader community.”
Connecting individuals with services
The City, County and community partners have intensified their coordination and response to better support residents transition to safer, more stable housing. The County has created multidisciplinary response teams to rapidly assess situations. They focus on identifying existing connections individuals may already have with County services and strengthen those relationships to create individualized pathways to shelter, housing alternatives, and long-term stability whenever possible.
Over the next four weeks, the City, County, and partners will continually inform those staying at the encampments of the upcoming closures and help them connect with available resources.
The City and County will be on-site nearly every day from now until the closure helping individuals locate housing options, complete coordinated entry applications, replace key documents, offer transportation, amongst many other services. The City is also exploring options for how to expand capacity at local shelters.
