Bemidji Housing Crisis: Residents Evacuated, Hopelessness Looms

All 47 residents of Red Pine Estates, a subsidized housing facility in Bemidji, were evacuated within six days after the city deemed the building structurally unsound. The evacuation required a large community effort, with volunteers and even the local football team assisting in moving residents and their belongings. However, the closure of this building adds to the shortage of housing in Bemidji, with four subsidized housing buildings closing in the last nine months. Many residents expressed feelings of hopelessness and criticized the building's owner for not providing more assistance. The future housing situation for these residents remains uncertain.