Dozens urge City of Saint Paul council to halt planned encampment eviction and pause for planning

Council Vice President Elsie Yang opened a special City of Saint Paul council meeting continued from a July 22 public hearing so residents could testify about the mayor’s planned eviction of a large encampment. Yang set a two-minute limit for speakers and encouraged people who had not previously testified to go first.

More than 20 people spoke during the allotted period, including outreach workers, volunteers, faith leaders and unhoused residents. Several speakers criticized the pace and planning behind the eviction and said the city and county needed more time to coordinate services. "Giving the county, providers, residents, and community only 28 days to prepare for a large scale displacement is negligence," said Justin Levenduski, executive director of Open Hands Midway, who said he spoke for 94 people of faith and urged elected officials to publicly call the mayor for a delay.

Multiple witnesses questioned the effectiveness of the $1,000,000 plan to add temporary beds, saying it would not meet needs and cautioning that shelters can be unsafe. Jim Seaman of the New Freedom Store said the community has people "who are dying of cancer" and called for permanent housing solutions rather than temporary beds, arguing "That's $20,000 a bed." Adam Beers, a public-health professional who previously experienced homelessness, calculated local removal costs and questioned whether enforcement spending could be redirected to IDs, phones and short-term housing supports.

Speakers also offered alternatives. Matthew Resnick, who helped start one of the first tiny-house villages in Seattle, said the model can be scaled and offered to provide a detailed presentation. Multiple faith-based groups, mutual-aid volunteers and residents asked the council to request a 30- to 60-day pause so outreach workers could organize services and reduce harm.

After public testimony the council accepted motions to close the hearing and to adjourn; the clerk recorded five in favor on voice votes and the meeting was closed.