Town hall meeting on engagement center has many questions about the move and safety

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — It was a full house at City Hall as many came to comment about the relocation of the Downtown Engagement Center. The current center, located nearly a half a block away from City Hall has served nearly ninety people per day.

“You just got to have the courage to walk in there. And if you need the help you’re going to go in there and get the help. And they’re there to help. The nice thing is that they always tell you, you have to go here, you have to go there, well I’m tired, I don’t want to go there. And them all being in the same building, I’m feeling productive. I can get this done because all the services are where I need it to be,” said Tanelle Olson. 

Tanelle Olson is one of the many people who rely on the use of the DEC and its services. After sitting through the meeting, she had responded to the concerns made by people who shared they were concerned for their kids’ safety.

“They don’t have families, they don’t know what stability is. And that’s what the engagement center is there for. It’s to teach them stability. I understand that your property value goes down and everything like that. I can understand why you’re concerned about your kid, but more than likely, when it comes to children, they’re probably looking at them because they don’t got theirs,” said Olson.

Other comments that were made were concerns on the distance to some of the locations, and also on which location is best.

“People don’t want homeless people downtown. Ok, so now you’re going to set up in neighborhoods. People don’t want homeless people in neighborhoods, where are they supposed to… Where do you want people? I mean, to me, it makes sense to have a Downtown Engagement Center. And if there are no suitable locations downtown, I wonder what the urgency is to get out.”

The panelists pointed out that their current space is not suitable for the staff they have. And they are hoping that whichever location is chosen will be best for their services. 

While the Downtown Engagement Center has been approved to move to a new location, there is no set timeline for where and when it will happen.