Minneapolis cites progress addressing homelessness in new report

The City of Minneapolis claimed progress addressing unsheltered homelessness in a report released Tuesday. 

The quarterly report was mandated by an ordinance passed in Minneapolis last year aimed at providing greater transparency and oversight around the city’s encampment closures. 

The latest update compared data from one quarter — Dec. 19 to March 18 — to the last two quarters of 2024. 

Compared to its last report in March, the city saw lower spending on encampment closures and more transitions to shelters. 

Minneapolis significantly reduced how much it spent to shutter encampments — spending about $64,000 to close 13 encampments that quarter, compared to nearly $333,000 to close 17 encampments over two quarters in 2024. 

Fifty-three people accepted shelter offers compared to nine people last year, according to the report. 911 calls dropped 85 percent and 311 calls dropped by 87 percent in areas where encampments were closed. No arrests or medical emergencies were reported in the process. 

“The work isn’t done — but we’re on the right track, and we’re continuing to move more of our neighbors into beds and under roofs,” shared Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a news release. 

However, organizer Christin Crabtree disagrees with the city’s assessment. 

“This report tracks encampment closures. It does not really track the number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness at all,” she said. “It doesn't really tell the full story.” 

Crabtree has been involved with responding to encampment closures since 2021, supporting unhoused neighbors in accessing harm reduction and other social services. 

She said other government entities have better data on unhoused people that would not reflect progress made in Minneapolis. She questioned metrics like shelter acceptances, when those are typically one-night stays and don’t reflect longer-term outcomes. 

“There’s a lot more context here to consider in terms of where are these costs being pushed to? Where are the people are being pushed to? And what is actually happening to our residents?” said Crabtree. 

According to the report, the Homelessness Response Team in Minneapolis worked most frequently with police, public works and regulatory services in closing encampments this quarter. Metro Transit and the Minnesota Department of Transportation assisted with three closures. 

The city is scheduled to present more on the report’s findings and answer questions at the Minneapolis City Council’s next Business, Housing & Zoning committee meeting on Aug. 12.