St. Paul debates $11 million homelessness plan as some rally against encampment clearings

A St. Paul rally pushed back on encampment clearings as city leaders weigh how to pay for a broader homelessness plan.

People rallied in St. Paul against the clearing of encampments as the city debates funding for its $11 million homelessness plan.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reported for months on the costs tied to clearing the Pig’s Eye encampment.

“We see sweeps with no plan as the first and most violent and brutal step in the wrong direction,” said Alexander Jurney, with Stop the Sweeps coalition.

In August, St. Paul cleared the Pig’s Eye encampment at a cost of nearly $440,000.

The city and Ramsey County had previously committed $2.25 million toward shelter expansion, stabilization beds, and case management.

A second encampment later formed along Randolph Avenue with 410 people and counting.  

The city said that of 200 Pig’s Eye encampment residents, only se...