We work in partnership with others

Many City departments and local agencies work together to address homelessness. Our role is to connect unsheltered individuals to the services and resources available. Service providers are:

• Hennepin County
• Community Partners

Our guiding beliefs

Those who live in Minneapolis deserve safe, healthy and dignified housing. We work to balance the needs of:

• Unsheltered individuals
• Community members
• Business owners

Our role

The Homeless Response Team is part of the Department of Regulatory Services. We're the ones who respond to calls about unsheltered individuals and encampments. We also support private property owners who have an encampment on their property.

We support residents experiencing homelessness by:

• Visiting them wherever they're at, five days a week
• Connecting them to services and shelter
• Offering support that is mindful of a person's trauma and culture

Team members bring decades of experience in:

• Social work
• Rapid re-housing
• Mental health and substance abuse issues

Contact the Homeless Response Team

See resources for unsheltered individuals

Health and safety risks

Encampments can create health and safety risks for those living there, as well as the neighboring communities. Health and safety concerns at encampments include:

• Open drug use
• Trash and odors
• Infestation
• Violent crime
• Defecation in public spaces

About encampment closures

We work to ensure the health and safety of unsheltered individuals and the community. We look at four factors to decide whether to close an encampment:

• Neighborhood impact:
  • Geographic size
  • Number of residents
  • Number of 911 or 311 calls
  • How close it is to schools, businesses and residents
• Health impact:
  • Hygiene and environmental issues
  • If those who are pregnant or younger than 18 years old live there
• Safety impact:
  • Unstable structures
  • Weather
  • Drug use
  • Violence
  • Propane tanks
  • Illegal activity
• External impact:
  • Stories from neighbors and business owners
  • Nearby development, demolition or renovation

Property owner responsibilities

Private property owners are responsible for:

• Their land
• Removing any garbage from an encampment.

Here are some best practices for caring for your property and preventing encampments:

• Put in fencing
• Hire private security
• Get no trespassing signs from your neighborhood Crime Prevention Specialist
• Contact the Homeless Response Team
• Report criminal activity to 911
• Safely get rid of any needles and sharps

See resources for property owners