Nearly two dozen people are living in tents on the median and boulevard at the intersection of Cedar and Franklin. The city says they have until Oct 5 to move.

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Georgia Fort reports: 

The city of Minneapolis is demanding residents of a tent encampment clear out. Nearly two dozen people are living in tents on the median and boulevard at the intersection of Cedar and Franklin. Many say they hope to move to a shelter by the October 5th eviction date. A resident who identified herself as Christine says she plans to stay.

“When we move, we lose. This is public property right here, not private. It's a highway, it's a street,” she said. “I don’t think we should move, I’m putting up a fight.”

Christine says she no longer has custody of her 9-year-old daughter. She’s been trying to overcome homelessness for nearly seven years.

The city of Minneapolis declined a request for an interview, but stated Hennepin County, Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors and the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center are all working to help identify shelters and treatment facilities for the tent residents.

The city has been providing port-a-potties and waste services, and included information for three shelters on the closure notice that’s posted throughout the encampment. 

25-year-old Montez Hasley is a father of two. He’s been homeless for more than a year and hopes to use the October 5th deadline as motivation to go to treatment and turn his life around for his kids.

“I plan on going to a shelter and getting housing. I’m tired of living out here in these streets and wearing the same clothes,” he said.

Housing advocates say the root causes of homelessness include a lack of affordable housing and the lack of services to treat both mental illness and addiction.