Minneapolis May Sue Landlord Over Homeless Encampment; City Plans Tuesday Clearance

Minneapolis May Sue Landlord Over Homeless Encampment; City Plans Tuesday Clearance

MINNEAPOLIS — Aug. 25, 2025. Minneapolis officials are weighing legal action against a landlord who allowed a large homeless encampment to operate on his private property, even as the city prepares to clear the site on Tuesday.

The encampment, located in a parking lot at 2716 E. Lake St., has been deemed a public health nuisance by city inspectors. Cited violations include drug paraphernalia, accumulated garbage, open fires, unsafe structures, and the absence of running water or sanitation. The city has already issued $5,000 in fines and warned that if the landlord does not comply, it will remove the encampment at his expense.

Mayor Jacob Frey: courtesy- WCCO

Mayor Jacob Frey has called a closed-session council meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 27, to brief members on potential litigation against the property owner, Hamoudi Sabri.

Hamoudi Sabri: courtesy- WCCO

Sabri, who has allowed unhoused residents to stay on two of his commercial properties this summer, insists his goal is to provide stability and compassion. “It’s about getting the homeless in one place, helping them in one location,” Sabri told the Star Tribune, while disputing aspects of the city’s citations.

The confrontation highlights a broader tension in Minneapolis: how to balance compassion for people experiencing homelessness with neighborhood safety and public health concerns.

This is not the first flashpoint. On July 25, city crews attempted to dismantle the same encampment but withdrew after a tense standoff with Sabri. At the time, outreach workers noted that local shelters were full, while nearby residents raised concerns about safety hazards, litter, and the camp’s proximity to a school.

City officials say their Homeless Response Team has been visiting the Lake Street site on weekdays since early July, offering medical support, transportation, and shelter referrals. Still, Minneapolis maintains that property owners are responsible for conditions on their land and must take preventative steps—such as fencing, signage, and waste removal—when encampments form.

What’s next: Unless conditions are addressed, the city plans to move forward with clearing the site on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Meanwhile, the outcome of the council’s Wednesday meeting could shape how Minneapolis enforces its anti-camping ordinance on private property—an area where the city has faced increasing challenges as the housing crisis deepens.

MinneapoliMedia