St. Paul to clear 450 people from encampments

Closing the encampments is the first step towards a stronger, healthier community. Supporting people experiencing homelessness requires a holistic, multi-faceted approach that includes housing, health care, and other critical services. We are working with the state, county, and nonprofit partners to build long-term, regional solutions that help achieve lasting stability.”

Cedrick Baker

Audio

St. Paul to clear 450 people from encampments_Jane McClure.mp3

A contentious debate over clearing Saint Paul’s three largest homeless encampments continues. Advocates, encampment dwellers and some elected officials are challenging Mayor Kaohly Her over her administration’s decision.

That work was to start Thursday, Aug.5 at the Pig’s Eye Park/Fish Hatchery encampments after the Monitor went to press. Encampments at Shepard Road/Randolph Avenue L’Orient Street/Maryland Avenue are to follow.

Her’s decision to shut down Saint Paul’s larger homeless encampments is based on issues of public safety. It has sparked a firestorm of objections. More than 150 people submitted comments to the City Council and packed the council chambers for a July 22, 2026 hearing. Almost 100 turned out for a listening session and panel discussion July 29.

Key concerns include the loss of community between encampment residents, and the difficulty service providers will have in finding those they are helping. Loss of belongings, including medication and identification, when camps are cleared is another worry. One woman described losing her late father’s ashes in a sweep. Others worry about being separated from loved ones and their communities. Yet another worry is losing their pets.

Concerns raised in Hamline-Midway, Frogtown and other neighborhoods are that displaced residents will migrate to their areas, putting further strain on their neighborhood services.

450 PEOPLE IN ENCAMPMENTS
Many service providers said they were blindsided by Her’s July 8 announcement. They questioned easily finding support and services, as shelters are full and many deeply affordable housing programs have long wait lists. After the camps are closed, city staff will enforce a camping ban at its parks.

Open Hands Midway Director Justin Lewandowski said, “What shocked me most wasn’t just the announcement – it was how many of the people on the front lines of this work had no idea it was coming. Outreach workers, service providers and community partners who will be responsible for responding to the consequences weren’t meaningfully brought into the conversation before the decision was made.”

Seneca Krueger, who works in street outreach, said that closing the three largest encampments means displacing about 450 people and putting more people back on the street without safe options. “The mayor’s office did not coordinate with most of us working in homeless services about this plan prior to making it. Representatives from both major shelter systems made the mayor’s office aware that there is no shelter space. Ramsey County let them know that there are already 1,400 people on the list waiting for housing, so housing is also not an option. Public health and healthcare for the homeless highlighted the risk of death in closing these spaces… and the mayor’s office basically responded by telling everyone to ‘get on board’.”

“The ask I’m hearing across the city is simple: pause the closures, stabilize conditions at the camps, and bring everyone to the table while we work together toward long-term housing solutions,” Lewandowski said. “During Operation Metro Surge, we saw neighbors, faith communities, nonprofits, and public agencies step up with extraordinary care and coordination. At a time when federal policy is shifting toward enforcement and encampment removal, Saint Paul has an opportunity to choose a different path. We can and should do better – we just need elected leaders with the political will to imagine that.”

Ramsey County Administrator Ling Becker said that county staff is fully engaged to work with those at the camps to provide services.

“We know that behind every situation, there’s a human being,” Becker said.

‘SIGNIFICANT’ PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS
In a news release, Her’s office explained that city staff conducted a comprehensive assessment of encampment conditions and found “significant” public health and safety concerns. The problems documented include fires, sexual assaults, thefts, two overdose-related deaths, and other emergencies. Occupants and their surrounding communities are deemed at risk.

“Closing the encampments is the first step towards a stronger, healthier community. Supporting people experiencing homelessness requires a holistic, multi-faceted approach that includes housing, health care, and other critical services. We are working with the state, county, and nonprofit partners to build long-term, regional solutions that help achieve lasting stability,” said Deputy Mayor Cedrick Baker.

In the news release, Her said the city invites community partners and direct service providers to work with them. Ideas suggested have included seeing if current shelter capacity can be expanded.

ADVOCATES ASK FOR PAUSE
Advocates are asking to pause the encampment sweeps until more is done to support those living there. Some have asked for the city to find places for the homeless to camp longer-term. Her has called for a crackdown on camping on city property.

Rising Waters Mutual Aid founder Kat Hunter said workers will spend more time searching for displaced people than being able to help them and provide resources.

The Stop the Sweeps coalition is asking city and county officials for work toward solutions, ending the policy making encampments illegal, asking that abandoned tents and storage tents not be removed, and adding more sanitary facilities.

UNSHELTERED FROM OTHER PARTS OF STATE
City and county officials and advocates are lining up resources. The Ramsey County Board July 29 accepted $1.08 million in city Local Affordable Housing Aid to provide more shelter beds.
The city-county joint partnership created with the funding runs through 2028. It includes $200,000 for 49 more beds at the Catholic Charities Higher Ground facility downtown. The county will match the city dollars with almost $960,000.

Another $880,000 of city dollars will be used to contract for emergency beds elsewhere.
More support workers will be hired by the county.

Becker and Commissioner Rena Moran, who leads the Heading Home Ramsey continuum of housing services efforts, spoke to the challenges ahead. Becker emphasized that homelessness cannot be managed by one jurisdiction alone. Moran cited further strains on the county budget.
While saying that Ramsey County never turns anyone away, Moran pointed out that unsheltered people from other parts of the state come to Saint Paul for services. When she was a state legislator several years ago, Moran worked unsuccessfully to get state funding to address the homeless crisis.