Fargo City Leaders Talk About Next Moves on Dealing With Homeless Camps

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo City Commission and Fargo Park Board met earlier in the day to discuss their next moves on homeless camps on both city and park property.

Homeless encampments have continued to grow within the past few years and many city officials are concerned for both the public’s and homeless community’s safety.

“Are we making it too easy to be homeless in Fargo? I mean I’m getting calls every single day from residents who are taxpayers and have an expectation of safety and they – I used to run on that trail everyday. Under the First Avenue bridge, it took me five people asking five different people just so I can have someone to walk down there during the middle of the day. To have a look at it,” said Michelle Turnberg, Fargo City Commissioner.

Currently under the Main Avenue bridge there are several hidden encampments off the trail. But with the new proposal of no camps within 100 feet of critical infrastructures such as the bridge and within 30 feet of a bike trail many will have to move.

“To me we are just talking about one group, but this is for everybody. And to me camping should not be allowed on public property other than the campground at Lindenwood where we have showers, restrooms. What we want along the river we want it to be clean and safe,” said Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner.

The city has also proposed previously to work on Fargo Streets to Housed, a pilot program that will push the homeless off the streets and trails into housing, but that project is still in the planning stages.

“We integrate the lessons we’ve seen in other communities and we do better now that we know better.”
While the city continues to work on their proposals, they will be working to identify the issues the community has addressed.

The city commission will continue to discuss the next steps at their next meeting.