Churches United Concerned For Possible Impact to Shelters With New Fargo Camping Ban

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) — The city of Fargo will start enforcing the new ordinance at the end of this month. While there are very few camps left near the downtown area, the concern is what will happen next.

“Historically, it’s easier for people to stay outdoors in the nicer months. But that also was dependent on them having places to do that. Does that mean people will migrate, does that mean they will stay here in the community and look for shelter now that the enforcement is going to take place? I guess that’s something we’re going to have to wait and see,” said Pastor Devlyn Brooks, Churches United.

The original camping ordinance went into effect in September. City workers cleared out the remaining camps along the Red River. You can still see remnants where the camps once stood.

“We are seeing an uptick in numbers. We suspect that probably all of the area shelters will just simply because people are..they’re looking for what those other alternatives are. And so if you look at the numbers in the community, there are still upwards of two hundred to three hundred households that are looking for shelter,” said Brooks.

A similar camping ban is in effect in Moorhead. Local shelters have been struggling to meet the needs of the homeless for the past several years. With the rise in homelessness in the past year, Brooks believes this may be concerning.

“I think if you look across at all the shelters, there’s not a great surplus of beds that are just waiting for additional people that will be impacted by you know the enforcement of the ban,” said Brooks.

Brooks suggests anyone looking for shelter to reach out to any of the shelters or caseworkers to get the support that they need.

The ban takes effect on April 30th.