Grand Forks officials, providers form working group as homelessness and shelter needs rise

City council members, public-health staff, law enforcement and a range of nonprofit and health providers met Sept. 15 in Grand Forks to review rising shelter demand, coordinate services and plan next steps after the recent dissolution of Red River Valley Community Action. The working group discussed short-term shelter gaps, expanded medical withdrawal-management services and longer-term housing needs.

The city’s community development manager, Colin Hanson, said Red River Valley Community Action has moved to dissolve and that the agency owns three properties: Ernie’s Place, a triplex built with federal pass-through funding and the Gateway Drive office. Hanson said the triplex is subject to a 20-year affordability period tied to HUD restrictions and that the city holds a $150,000 mortgage and a land‑use covenant on that property; Bremer Bank holds a prior mortgage on the site.

City public-health director Tess Walsh convened the working group to create a “continuum” view of needs from households at risk of losing housing to people who are unsheltered and disconnected from services. Walsh summarized recent meetings and said the group will focus on reducing duplication and identifying…