Fargo Cass Public Health will begin its 2026-2027 Winter Warming Operation on Monday night, running the overnight program out of the city's new Resource and Recovery Center at 2001 First Ave. N. The site will operate seven nights a week from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., giving adults without shelter access a place to escape freezing temperatures.
How the shelter will operate
The warming center is designed as a backup option for nights when area homeless shelters are full, not a replacement for them. Staff will first attempt to place individuals into open beds at existing shelters during intake, turning to the warming center only when no other overnight option is available. The service is limited to adults 18 and older.
Officials expect to accommodate up to 75 people each night. The move to the larger Resource and Recovery Center allows the program to offer 60 sleeping mats, distributed first-come, first-served. Once the mats run out, additional guests will be offered chairs and other seating rather than being turned away.
Staffing and support services
Current center employees will run the operation alongside as many as four temporary workers hired specifically for the winter season. Beyond providing overnight shelter, staff are expected to connect guests with broader community resources, including housing assistance, mental health support and medical care - framing the program as an entry point to longer-term services rather than a standalone solution.
Mayor Josh Boschee said the expanded offering reflects the broader purpose of the new facility, noting that providing warm overnight space is "another way the new facility is meeting the needs of our community."
Context from last winter
The Resource and Recovery Center opened in June, replacing the former Downtown Engagement Center. During the 2025-2026 season, the prior warming operation logged 8,872 total visits, averaging 62 people per night and serving 639 individuals over the course of the winter. Those figures suggest sustained, consistent demand for overnight cold-weather shelter in the Fargo area, and the added mat capacity at the new site is intended to accommodate similar or higher demand this winter without exceeding the facility's space.