Homeless people living along the Red River have attracted public attention for the past two years, said Carissa Raaen, a program coordinator for homeless outreach with Fargo Cass Public Health. Part of her job is to find homes for those who have none.
The Downtown Engagement Center, at 222 4th St. N., offers homeless people many services, including mental health assistance, help with housing applications, job searches, identification cards, health care, and the Syringe Service Program, which provides clean needles to drug users. The center has a laundry room, private showers and toilets, lockers for storing personal items, and a space for arts and crafts.