Downtown Minneapolis Homeless Camp

 

I periodically walk up the short trail that leads to this downtown Minneapolis camp.  There is a nice view of the river from here.  Few people living in downtown would even know this camp exists as they run or bike along the trail below. Throughout the spring, summer and fall there are often folks camping here.  With temperatures falling as we approach our coldest months only the foolish might consider camping outside as an alternative to going to a homeless shelter. I think we have reached that point with the weather now.  As people move in and out of this camp, trash gets pushed further and further down the hill.  Whose property is it?  Who is responsible?  It has become an unauthorized urban landfill.  This habitat, these wooded areas along the Mississippi River are also home to birds and animals and they deserve better than this. When you think about it, with humans out of the woods, this is exactly the time of year to get this place cleaned up.  I don't think we have to wait until Earth Day to do something about this disaster.