FARGO, N.D. (KFGO/KVRR) — The Downtown Engagement Center, a popular resource for many homeless people and others in need, is looking to expand as demand for it’s services continue to grow.
The Cass County Jail and local homeless shelters are full, and the Engagement Center’s proposed expansion may help ease the need for space. Fargo Cass Public Health and Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski have discussed a new location and adding a ‘deflection center.’
“The key elements of a deflection center include the primary goal, which is basically to avert from the arrest and to connect them to the services. Especially for those non-victim offenses, non-felonies,” Public Health Director Jenn Faul said.
Public Health has been working with Bloomberg Associates to draft an expansion plan. The discussion has centered around real estate in the downtown area for a space that will be approximately 30,000 square feet.
“It has been desirable for the downtown business sector, but also from the people who are operating out of the engagement center. Understanding that we have assumed a space that wasn’t particularly designed for us to work within,” Faul said. “We’ve also found real estate that has become available that could be accommodating and it would reduce the costs significantly from having to find a property to clear it or build new.”
Zibolski is on board with the plan, but the report for their idea won’t come out until January.
Another discussion point is future funding of public transportation.
“The formula as it is set up now focuses on elderly and disabled ridership. That formula has not changed for well over twenty years and that is what is in the century code for North Dakota,” Transit Director for the City of Fargo Julie Bommelman said.
There are four North Dakota cities with access to public transportation. The transportation departments in the state are requesting approximately $8 million to focus for all riders, including seniors and riders with disabilities.
“But if we push the idea that we’re helping elderly, disabled, we have a much better chance than generally speaking we want to help the transit system. Even though we aren’t advocating more funds for riders,” North Dakota Representative Austen Schauer from District 13 said Friday.
“I think we need to raise this the cost to ride. And if you want to subsidize that for those that can’t afford the increase rate, find a way to do that,” said Ben Koppelman, District 16 Representative.
Bommelman said they will have to work on how to approach the board again with funds, but believes that it is necessary for people to continue having the same fares.”
City of Fargo and Moorhead leaders will be holding a meeting on Monday to discuss the future for helping shelters stay afloat.
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