Fargo City Commission Hosts Meeting to Discuss Various Issues

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Homelessness has become a big issue that city of Fargo officials are still trying to tackle.

“As Covid funding is ending, homelessness issue in Fargo is increasing. During COVID many cities saw that there was a surge in unsheltered homelessness. And when I talk about unsheltered that means people who aren’t in shelters people who aren’t in cars. But truly people sleeping in the street,” said Jennifer Faul, Public Health Director.

Fargo had launched the Downtown Engagement Center in 2021 as a temporary place for individuals who need help or services for a place to go. But with funds running out it may end up shutting down.

“The primary goal for a new engagement center would be to divert some of the arrests and connect people to the services that they need. Those that are non-victim offenses, misdemeanors, or felonies,” said Faul.

Police Chief David Zibolski touches on the fact that as of right now, police have handled 2,164 mental health related issues

“The inability to address their needs they’re in they’re out or they’re right back into a crisis or in some disturbance or contact with our officers,” said David Zibolski, Fargo Police Chief.

While the Police Chief does mention that not all of the cases are people who are homeless, he wants the committee to be aware that the number of cases has increased and will most likely be over 3,000 by the end of the year.

Police also plan to launch a new traffic unit later this fall that the city attorney needs to review, based on increased penalties for speeding, drag racing and other traffic related issues.

Those will be examined later this week.