Winter Warming Center To Be Located At Former Fargo Police Headquarters on 25th Street South

Commissioners Also Voted 3-2 Against Ending The Needle Exchange Program

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo is taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to prevent cold weather related injuries or deaths this winter.

The Winter Warming Initiative was started in 2023 as a temporary plan to help the homeless during the winter months since most local shelters are at or over capacity.

Last year, they helped nearly 700 people with temporary shelter at the Downtown Engagement Center.

They have already helped 62 this year and winter has just begun.

But there are some changes to this year’s plan.

“So not at the Civic Center, not at the Engagement Center, but it’s going to be presently where the old police headquarters or substation used to be at Public Health building. And just for the public to understand it’s not beds it’s not cots its sitting upright in a chair and sleeping,” said Mayor Tim Mahoney.

In other action, a round of applause broke out when commissioners voted three to two against Commissioner Michelle Turnberg’s motion to end the needle exchange program.

She argued that it was enabling addicts at the expense of taxpayers.

The only support she got was from Commissioner Dave Piepkorn.