Social Issues

SNAP recipients will lose their pandemic boost and may face other reductions by March
Congress ended the temporary benefit meant to help low-income households with pandemic-era hardships. A huge increase in Social Security benefits may mean some households see further SNAP reductions.
Documentary series traces history of racial injustice, resistance in Twin Cities
Twin Cities Public Television released a documentary called Jim Crow of the North in 2019. A new series by the same name explores more stories about resistance to racial discrimination in the Twin Cities region. It hinges on this question: Why is Minneapolis the epicenter of a global racial reckoning?
Avivo Village shines as solution for unsheltered homelessness in Minneapolis
In 2020, the nonprofit Avivo went tent to tent at the massive encampment in Powderhorn Park to learn what it would take for residents to come indoors. From that came Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 small units in the North Loop designed specifically for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Is providing a portable toilet an endorsement of a homeless encampment?
Minneapolis has stopped fulfilling requests for portable toilets at encampments on city property. Some city council members say they think it’s a way for the city to skirt responsibility for its encampments.
Minneapolis City Council too gridlocked to change homeless encampment approach
Long a liberal city, one might think agreement would be easier in Minneapolis than other cities. But efforts to change city code that affects homelessness or to pause encampment closures have failed due to political gridlock and confusion.
Minneapolis made little progress on homeless encampments in 2022. Why?
Eager to improve the city’s response to encampments, new Minneapolis City Council members have been gridlocked, in part due to Mayor Jacob Frey’s recent expansion of power. Instead of creating a formal policy, the city is sending more police officers and establishing perimeters while closing camps.