Minneapolis will move forward with new plan for dealing with homeless encampments

The Minneapolis Public Health and Safety Committee has voted to move forward with an ordnance that could change the way the city deals with homeless encampments.

Minneapolis already has an ordinance that makes homeless encampments illegal. But now the committee would like to see required quarterly reporting on removals involving individuals experiencing homelessness.

City Council Chair Jason Chavez says he's unhappy with how the city has dealt with the issue so far.

"It is important to the people of Minneapolis to understand how much these resources are costing," Chavez explains. "What is the impact of it? And maybe the question is, if we're heading into a deficit, maybe we can be more effective with our taxpayer dollars and actually use money to fund housing?"

This decision comes just days comes after a fatal  shooting at an encampment in south Minneapolis.

The issue will now be taken up with the full city council on September 11.