During the summer homeless people pitched a few tents along a highway in Minneapolis. Politicians visited. Publicity helped the camp population swell to hundreds. Take a walk through a homeless tent city in Minneapolis Homeless Tent City Walk Through-Bob Davis Podcast 771.

Homeless People In Lots of Tents Equals Instant Controversy

Now, as the weather gets colder interest and controversy about this encampment grows.

Native Americans In Tents-New Immigrants in Public Housing

Most of these folks are Native Americans. The camp is less than a hundred feet away from public housing. Especially relevant many of the public housing units in the neighborhood are occupied by recent immigrants to the US.

Tent Cities Everywhere-America’s New Homeless Problem

Across the country these tent cities are popping up. These days everyone knows about homeless in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. What about Minneapolis? Documentarian Brandon Fertig is making a video detailing America’s homeless problem. Brandon’s website and links to social media are here. Last summer he decided to focus on the tent city here in Minneapolis. He says things have changed a lot when it comes to the Homeless since the 1950’s.

More Homeless Than Houston-Despite The Cold

Why? Many people don’t know the City of Lakes has more homeless than Houston.

Walk And Talk Through The Encampment

What you hear is what we experienced when Brandon and I did a walk and talk through the encampment.

Some Are Helping Now

We met James Cross of Natives Against Heroin and Allan Law, better known as the Sandwich Man. We also spent some time talking with residents of this tent city at Franklin Avenue and Highway 55 in South East Minneapolis. Check it out in Minneapolis Homeless Tent City Walk Through-Bob Davis Podcast 771.

Solutions May Not Be In Time

Finally what about solutions? One of the Tribes is tearing down a building across the highway. The plan is to bring in trailers. They won’t be ready for another two months. Moreover not all the residents of the camp will be able to move in. Then what? No one knows. Learn more in Minneapolis Homeless Tent City Walk Through-Bob Davis Podcast 771.

Politicians Visit In Summer-Not Around When November Winds Turn Cold

In conclusion Minneapolis could have a very serious and controversial problem on its hands when the weather changes. The real question is whether the city’s policies of subsidized apartment buildings for the rich, as well as other ‘regentrification‘ projects fueled by public money have contributed to the problem. Meanwhile the problems of the old city are stubborn reminders all is not well in the shining city of Minneapolis.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Minneapolis Homeless Tent City Walk Through-Bob Davis Podcast 771

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:00 — 84.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS