Winter warming operations to open at Fargo Resource and Recovery Center

Contributed / Fargo Cass Public Health By April Baumgarten Today at 2:28 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? FARGO — For the first time since opening, Fargo’s Resource and Recovery Center will be used for overnight winter warming operations. The center at 2001 First Ave. N. will let those who are homeless during the winter months stay in the facility overnight starting Monday, Nov. 9, according to a news release issued by Fargo Cass Public Health. The agency oversees operations at the Resource and Recovery Center. ADVERTISEMENT Warming operations will run 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. seven days a week, allowing those who can’t find shelter in the Fargo-Moorhead area to stay in the building, the release said. Fargo Cass Public Health plans for a capacity of 75 people, with 60 mats available on a first-come, first-served basis, the release said. The center also will have chairs and other seating options, the release said. The opening of warming operations comes ahead of below-freezing temperatures forecast for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, according to WDAY StormTracker meteorologists. Lows otherwise for the next week should mostly stay in the 30s and 40s, according to WDAY meteorologists. No snow is in the WDAY forecast. Public Health officials consider various factors, including weather forecasts, to determine when to launch winter warming operations, Public Health spokeswoman Holly Scott said. Last year, officials opened warming operations as a winter storm approached the F-M area. Fargo Cass Public Health has managed winter warming operations for several years, but this is the first time it will host the efforts at the Resource and Recovery Center. The facility that offers homelessness services opened in mid-2026 and allowed Public Health to move those operations from downtown Fargo. The former Downtown Engagement Center, or DEC, at 222 Fourth St. N. hosted warming operations last winter and served an average of 62 individuals each night, according to Public Health. The operations helped 639 unique individuals, the release said. ADVERTISEMENT READ MORE LOCAL NEWS Moorhead community center receives $200K grant 57m ago Levi Larteh sentenced to 55 years in 2025 apartment stairwell slaying 1h ago Moorhead man sentenced in hit-and-run; victim describes 'agonizing' injuries, psychological trauma 5h ago The Resource and Recovery Center offered more space than the DEC, allowing staff to serve clients more efficiently, city leaders said. The DEC closed after the Resource and Recovery Center opened. Developers are eyeing the DEC for a hotel that will serve the future Convention Center in downtown Fargo. The Resource and Recovery Center is not typically used as a shelter, but winter warming operations allow those who are at least 18 years old to stay there when other shelter is unavailable. Staff at the center will help connect homeless individuals with shelters that have space, Public Health said. “Every day, Resource and Recovery Center staff and partner agencies apply evidence-based practices to help people experiencing homelessness in our metro area,” Fargo Mayor Josh Boschee said in a statement. “Opening the center’s doors to provide a warm place to stay during extreme cold is another way the new facility is meeting the needs of our community.” In the past, warming operations did not feature beds and had limited resources at night. The mats that are at the center this year were purchased by the city using federal coronavirus pandemic grants, Scott said. The mats were used in the past for quarantine and isolation activities but were in storage after that use ended, Scott said. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags FARGO CASS PUBLIC HEALTH FARGO HOMELESSNESS By April Baumgarten April Baumgarten is the Fargo city government reporter. The North Dakota native started her journalism career in 2011 and joined The Forum in February 2019. Readers can reach her at 701-241-5417 or [email protected] . 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