(FARGO, ND) – A Fargo City Commissioner is looking to address the homelessness problems in Fargo by making changes to the current program in place.
City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg is recommending a program called Operation Safe Fargo.
The program, if approved by the Fargo City Commission, would restrict unauthorized camping on city-owned property. It would also call for the removal of existing campsites and the dismantling of newly established campsites.
Individuals who are displaced by the new restrictions will be offered transportation assistance under Turnberg’s plan, including a bus ticket to their hometown or another city of their choice.
The Fargo Civic Center would be repurposed into an emergency shelter to provide relief during the winter months with several operational guidelines, including no drugs or alcohol, a safety screening and cots. Pets would be allowed, as long as they are leashed or crated, with crates being provided if needed. Trained security staff would be on site around the clock, and the shelter would close on May 1.
Funds currently allocated to the winter warming program would be redirected to support the new shelter, and services currently provided at the Downtown Engagement Center would be redirected to Fargo Cass Public Health after May 1.
Turnberg’s plan would call for a repurposing of the current Downtown Engagement Center property, with the building either being sold or repurposed into a Fargo Police substation.
“This plan emphasizes the need for expanded mental health and addiction recovery services in Fargo,” Turnberg wrote in a memo to commissioners. “As winter sets in, we must act decisively to protect vulnerable individuals from the harsh conditions while creating time to assess and improve housing strategies.”
