>> CATHY: THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS POSTPONED A PLANNED CLEARING OF A HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT IN THE EAST PHILLIPS NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE ENCAMPMENT HOUSES NATIVE AMERICAN OCCUPANTS.

THIS PAST WEEK, THERE WAS A FATAL SHOOTING AT THE ENCAMPMENT, AND ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, CAMP ORGANIZERS AND SUPPORTERS MARCHED TO KEEP THE CAMP OPEN.

HERE WITH US NOW, KATELYN VUE.

SHE COVERS HOUSING FOR "THE SAHAN JOURNAL."

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>> Cathy: SO THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF A MOVING TARGET.

WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM THE CITY?

>> SO THIS FRIDAY AGAIN THEY ANNOUNCED AGAIN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO POSTPONE IT.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO E DECEMBER 19TH.

BUT THEY POSTPONED IT AND THEY HAVE NOT SET A NEW DATE YET.

>> Eric: WHAT'S THE SUCCESS RATE OF FINDING ALTERNATIVE HOUSING FOR THESE FOLKS?

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN SLOWLY ONGOING.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO HOUSE NEARLY 80 PEOPLE OUT OF 180 THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT, YEAH, A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

CAMP ORGANIZERS, HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CITY HAS BEEN PART OF THAT PROCESS.

>> Cathy: BUT AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THIS ENCAMPMENTS BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THIS ENCAMPMENT, IT STARTED IN AUGUST BECAUSE WHEN THEY CLEARED THE WALL OF FOR GOTTEN NATIVE WHICH IS NEAR HIAWATHA TOWERS AND ALONG HIGHWAY 55, A LOT OF THE ENCAMPMENTS WERE NATIVE AND THEY SETTLED NEAR THE PHILLIPS COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> Eric: WHAT MAKES THIS ENCAMPMENT DIFFERENT OR UNIQUE?

>> YEAH, SO I'VE BEEN THERE OF A FEW AT ANOTHER TIME OF TIMES AND THAT'S SORT OF THE COMMON THIRTEEN.

THE MESSAGE AROUND THIS CAMP IS IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE SINCE IT STARTED IN AUGUST, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE 15 YURTS OUT OF, LIKE, WOOD AND STRING AND ROPE.

AND THEY HAVE TWO MAJOR TENTS.

THAT LOOK LIKE ARMY TENTS.

AND THEY HAVE ONE THAT'S A KITCHEN AND THEN A HEALING SPACE.

AND THEY ALL HAVE, LIKE, WOOD BURNING STOAFS.

SO IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP ALL THESE PEOPLE BODILY WARM.

>> Cathy: OF >> Cathy: BUT IT'S NOT PERMANENT AND THE CITY SAYS, WHAT, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN AND SAFETY CONCERN?

>> YEAH, WHEN ASKING ABOUT THE REASONS WHY, THEY POINTED OUT THAT THEY HAVE ONGOING PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.

JUST THE CITY HAS SENT ME A SPREADSHEET OF ABOUT 100 CALLS MADE TO THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT AROUND CRIME THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE NEARBY VICINITY ALREADY.

>> Eric: WHAT ARE NEIGHBORS SAYING?

>> YEAH, SO I'VE MET SOME NEIGHBORS AND SOME OF THEM HAVE SORT OF MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THIS ENCAMPMENT.

I MET NEIGHBORS WHO ACTUALLY FEEL SAFER WITH THIS CAMP AROUND.

SOME WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SHOWN UP TO VOLUNTEER.

AND SOME WHO ARE FEARFUL OF GETTING OUT OF THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, BEING, YOU KNOW, A VICTIM OF CRIME.

>> Cathy: NOW, THE ACTIVISTS, DIDN'T THEY TRY TO -- THEY PLEADED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

AND THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK AROUND THIS.

CLEARLY, I GUESS SOMEONE HEARD THEM.

BUT WHAT'S THE LONG-TERM ANSWER FOR THIS?

>> YEAH, I TALKED TO KRISTIN CRABTREE WHO'S A CAMP ORGANIZER.

SHE'S BEEN A ACTIVIST FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

AND SHE SAID SHE KNOWS, LIKE, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE FOREVER.

THEY DON'T PLAN HAVE HAVING FOLKS STAY AT THIS ENCAMPMENT FOREVER.

THEY EVEN SAY LIVING OUTSIDE IS NOT IDEAL.

BUT THEY ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN THEY CALL THE SHELTERS, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH BEDS AND THE CITY HAS TO ACTUALLY TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

>> Eric: IF THIS IS WHAT PASSES FOR A HOMELESS PROGRAM IN MINNEAPOLIS?

ENCAMP ANTEMAZE, AND THEN LET THEM STAY AND THEN TEAR IT DOWN AND THEY MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S SORT OF A COMMON THEME TOO.

IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE AND THE CITY HAS HAD TO POSTPONE IT TWICE BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS.

SO I'D SAY THAT, I MEAN, SINCE THERE'S NO NEW DATE, E'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Cathy: ALL IGHT.