Human Rights Commission - November 20, 2025
Regular Meeting: Thursday, November 20, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 20, 2025.
The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Carolyn Becraft, Aaron Kawreh, Nancy Boyle, Xavier Welty.
Absent: Sekou Sirleaf, Kristin Nelson, Tambah Saah. Cody Severson.
Others: Brenda Derrig, Administration.
Item 1. Welcome and introductions
Item 2. Approve or amend agenda:
o Not approved due to lack of a quorum.
Item 3. Approval of October 16, 2025 meeting minutes:
o Not approved due to lack of a quorum.
Item 4. Reaffirm Chair and Vice Chair Positions:
o Not approved due to lack of a quorum.
Item 5. Community Presentation:
o None.
Item 6. Presentation to Past Board Member:
o Not done.
Item 7. FM Coalition to End Homelessness:
Chandler Esslinger, FM Coalition to End Homeless, said the Coalition's mission is working in partnership to achieve permanent solutions that prevent and end homelessness. The Coalition supports more than 70 organizations that form a response system addressing various stages of housing instability, she said, from prevention and emergency shelter to healthcare and recovery. She highlighted a concerning upward trend in local homelessness:
• For the past several years, approximately 1,055 individuals experienced homelessness on any given night.
• New data suggests this number has risen to roughly 1,200 individuals, representing a 9% year-over-year increase from 2023 to 2024 and another projected 9% increase in 2025.
• There are only about 350 year-round shelter beds available in the community, a number far exceeded by the current demand.
• An estimated 100 individuals are living unsheltered on the street or in places not meant for human habitation on any given night.
• There are approximately 600 students in the metro area who are experiencing homelessness, though this is calculated under a different federal definition than the adult population.
She said many local institutions are struggling to meet the surge in demand. The New Life Center, which is the region's largest men's shelter, has been at capacity year-round, she said, forcing them to turn away an average of seven men per day. They are currently fundraising to expand overflow capacity, she stated. A potential Housing and Urban Development funding shift puts up to 70% of the region’s federal homelessness funding at risk, which would impact emergency shelter beds and long-term subsidized housing, she said. The Stepping Stones Resource Center faces a $125,000.00 funding gap to maintain its winter overnight hours for young adults.
In response to questions about why numbers are rising despite active intervention, Ms. Eslinger said housing unaffordability is the primary driver. Even for those working multiple jobs, poor credit or a lack of savings for deposits can trap individuals in expensive motels or temporary doubled-up living situations, she said. The region faces a projected scarcity of 15,000 housing units over the next decade, she said. The Coalition is currently developing a comprehensive, community-wide plan, she stated, the first since 2018 and involving more than 70 organizations across five cities and two counties. The plan aims to move beyond treating symptoms to building a robust infrastructure for prevention and permanent housing, she said. Community members and leaders are encouraged to advocate for the renewal of federal Continuum of Care (CoC) awards through state representatives, support local landlord risk mitigation funds to lower barriers for risky renters and engage with the Coalition’s newsletter to stay informed on real-time data and policy alerts.
Item 8. Administration update:
o None.
Item 9. Announcements:
o Ms. Boyle said the Commission spent the fall season rotating through critical community topics such as housing awareness, immigration and rights and human rights advocacy. She said in January she hopes the Commission can host Cody Schuler from the ACLU to lead a discussion on general human rights and the specific actions citizens and commissioners can take to advocate for systemic change. She said a core objective moving forward is for the HRC to transition from an advisory body to an active community partner. She emphasized a desire to collaborate directly with local entities and nonprofits doing the nitty-gritty work and the goal is for the HRC to become a visible, approachable resource that helps fill gaps in service or advocacy. She said the HRC encourages any local organizations or individuals who feel they could benefit from a partnership to reach out. By working together, she said, the HRC aims to meet its goal of better supporting the community's most vulnerable populations.
Item 10. Public comment:
o Christopher Coen spoke.
Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 12:48 p.m.
Next meeting: January 16, 2026 at noon.