Hamoudi Sabri, owner of a Minneapolis Lake Street homeless encampment, criticized city leaders for their response to recent shootings. He argues that if the city treated these incidents as emergencies, it would deploy outreach, mental health, and housing services instead of clearing tents. Sabri has previously hosted encampments on his property to help homeless individuals find stability, but these efforts were ultimately cleared by the city in March 2022.
- City lacks emergency response for shootings
- Sabri hosted homeless encampment on private property
- Encampment faced sanitation and safety issues
- City cracked down on large homeless camps
- Homeless population believed to be significantly reduced
- Sabri aims to concentrate resources at a vacant property
Sabri, who hosted a temporary encampment on his property in North Loop, says city responses focus on displacement rather than solutions. Despite efforts to reduce tent camps, large gatherings of homeless people remain in areas like Midtown Greenway and under bridges. Sabri now invites people to move into a vacant property he owns on E. Lake St., damaged after 2020 unrest, aiming to concentrate resources and reduce chaos.
- Sabri’s encampment lasted months before city clearance in March 2022.
- The city claims to have reduced unsheltered homelessness to fewer than 30 people.
- Large homeless gatherings persist along Midtown Greenway and bridges.
- Sabri advocates for centralized resources at his property to improve safety and aid.
This ongoing debate highlights the need for balanced strategies addressing homelessness and public safety in Minneapolis.
City officials may need to reconsider their approach, focusing on support rather than displacement to effectively address homelessness.
