Fargo city officials today identified a potential site for an overnight emergency shelter and detox facility for homeless people.
The city is negotiating to buy the one-story vacant building at 1519 1st Ave. S. using federal Community Development Block Grant dollars, Fargo Senior Planner Dan Mahli said.
Mahli said the site would be a detox facility and a drop-in center where homeless people who have been drinking alcohol could spend the night. For safety reasons, Fargo-Moorhead's existing homeless shelters don't accept people who are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
"The idea is you don't have to walk through any neighborhoods to get there, and it's still close to downtown," he said.
Lana Schatschneider, who lives directly across First Street from the proposed site with her husband and 2-year-old son, said Wednesday was the first she had heard about the negotiations.
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"I don't think I'd have a problem with that," she said of the city's shelter plans.
"Obviously, you're worried and concerned about your own children, but people do have needs," she added.
Mahli said the shelter would open this summer at the earliest.
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
