Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Relocation of the Downtown Engagement Center
Community members are invited to attend a town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 23, to discuss the relocation of the Downtown Engagement Center (DEC). Doors will open at 4:45 p.m., with opening remarks beginning at 5 p.m. The meeting will be held in Fargo City Commission Chambers within Fargo City Hall, located at 225 4th Street North. The meeting will be streamed live at TVFargo.com as well as on the City of Fargo’s Facebook and YouTube accounts.
During the meeting, City of Fargo staff will be present to answer questions and provide information about the relocation of the DEC. Community partners and service providers who serve guests from the current DEC location and plan to be at the future site will also provide information. Community members not able to attend the town hall event are invited to share their input at this link, which will be open until 12 a.m. on Thursday, September 25.
Through a unique and no-cost partnership with consultants from Bloomberg Associates, the City has identified three sites for potential relocation of the DEC. In no specific order, those sites are:
• 610 North University Drive, Fargo
• 720 14th Street North, Fargo
• 2001 1st Avenue North, Fargo
An update on this topic was provided by Assistant City Administrator Brenda Derrig during the Monday, September 15 Fargo City Commission meeting. A recording of the September 15 meeting can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel and the City’s website. The Fargo City Commission plans to revisit this topic at its September 29 meeting.
Gladys Ray Shelter
The mission of the Gladys Ray Shelter (G-Ray) is to provide a safe, comfortable temporary shelter for people who often do not have other options in the community, and to help connect people to housing and services in a welcoming and non-judgmental environment. The Gladys Ray Shelter is a free shelter for homeless adults regardless of physical or emotional conditions, and aims to facilitate their move towards self-sufficiency.
The G-Ray continuously works to address core issues of homelessness, including chronic chemical dependency, mental illness and physical disabilities, as well as unemployment and affordable housing issues. The G-Ray is committed to helping ensure that adequate housing options and resources are available to all guests leaving the emergency shelter.
Withdrawal Management Unit (Detox)
The Withdrawal Management Unit (WMU) provides short-term residential, social model (non-medical) detoxification services for adult men and women. Services are provided in a clean, supportive and calm environment designed to assist individuals through the difficulties and dangers of detoxification from alcohol in a non-medical setting. Services are provided by knowledgeable staff who are trained in the recognition and implications of withdrawal symptoms related to alcohol use. The WMU is located in the same building as the Gladys Ray Shelter.
Harm Reduction Center (HRC)
The Harm Reduction Center (HRC) is the stand-alone site of Fargo Cass Public Health’s syringe services program (SSP), providing a safe space to discuss drug use-related concerns with a harm reduction specialist. Staff help program participants get connected to resources in the community, including social services, mental health providers and medical care.
The HRC offers harm reduction services, education, and supplies for persons who use drugs, including:
- Safer injection education
- Safer injection supplies including syringes & other injection equipment
- Fentanyl and xylazine test strips
- Sharps containers
- Safe, secure syringe disposal
- HIV, hepatitis C and STI prevention education
- Safer sex supplies including condoms and dental dams
- Rapid testing for HIV and hepatitis C
- Safer smoking education & supplies
- Nasal (Narcan) and injectable naloxone
- Overdose response and naloxone administration training
- Referrals to health care, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, social services, housing and more
Address:
Harm Reduction Center
510 5th Street North
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: 701.298.6982
Current Hours of Operation:
Monday: 3:00 - 8:00 pm
Tuesday: 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: closed
Costs/Fees: None
Eligibility: Must be 18 years old or older; no residency requirements; no requirements to provide ID, insurance or personal information. Program participants remain anonymous.