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FM Coalition, United Way outline $2.5 million push to avert rise in homelessness
Summary
FM Coalition to End Homelessness and the United Way of Cass Clay told the Moorhead City Council a regional plan and a $2.5 million initial investment are intended to prevent an expected short-term rise in unsheltered homelessness and build a longer-term strategy.
Chandler Hesslinger, executive director of the FM Coalition to End Homelessness, and Taylor Severson, director of community impact for the United Way of Cass Clay, told the Moorhead City Council on March 24 that the metro region needs both short-term funding and a cross-jurisdictional strategy to prevent and reduce homelessness.
The presenters said the coalition and United Way estimate roughly 1,050 people in the Fargo–Moorhead metro area are experiencing homelessness on any given night and that about 600 students in area schools are experiencing homelessness. "The coalition's mission has always been that we work in partnership to achieve permanent solutions to prevent and end homelessness in our region," Hesslinger said.
Why it matters: Speakers said the region has seen a local 5% increase in homelessness since 2023 and cited a national 18% rise as context. They described two urgent needs: short-term interventions to avoid an anticipated immediate influx of unsheltered people as winter programs end, and a longer-term, regional planning process to reduce homelessness over time.
Severson said the initiative will combine short-term supports with a strategic planning process. "It's going to take this multi sector and multi, jurisdictional approach to truly address homelessness in our community," she said. The presenters said a steering committee of 15 service providers is already in place and that roughly 45 additional stakeholders will be engaged in a regional planning council.
Financials and timeline: The organizations said they have secured or are pursuing an initial investment of about $2.5 million to support short-term strategies for 12 to 18 months while the broader plan is created. They said that, if winter shelters and temporary programs end without additional capacity, the area could see an increase of about 55 to 65 people entering unsheltered homelessness in the near term.
Questions from councilors focused on funding sources and transportation. Council Member Nicole Matson asked how much of the system’s funding comes from the federal government and whether cuts to transit would increase risk of homelessness. Hesslinger and Severson responded that the region relies on a mix of federal, state and locally raised funds, and that many local agencies supplement budgets through fundraising; they said cuts to transportation could worsen access to services but that agencies try to collaborate to provide transportation.
The presenters said the initiative will coordinate service providers across jurisdictions because many people use resources in multiple cities and counties; they encouraged residents to visit the United to End Homelessness website and subscribe to the coalition newsletter for ongoing updates and fundraising links.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation tonight; it was listed as a recognition and presentation item.
Ending: Council members thanked the presenters and noted the city's limited in-house social-service staff compared with neighboring Fargo; councilors and the mayor said they would continue to follow the coalition and United Way as the regional planning and funding work continues.
