Community Rallies Against Hunger and Homelessness
The clatter of dishes and low hum of conversation filled Augustana Lutheran Church on Nov. 18 as neighbors shared a simple meal and hard truths. The gathering, organized by the Community Agency Networking Association (CANA), anchored Grand Forks’ observance of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and centered voices of people who’ve navigated life without a reliable place to sleep or steady access to food.
CANA brought together service providers, faith leaders, and residents to talk through what’s working—and what still isn’t—for families stretched by rent, groceries, and rising utility costs. Organizers framed the dinner as both an update and a call to action: a chance for the community to hear firsthand from those on the front lines and to connect with practical ways to help.
The program mixed brief presentations with open conversation at round tables, keeping the focus local. Speakers underscored that while hunger and homelessness are national issues, solutions in Grand Forks run through community networks, from neighborhood churches to the city’s Greenway-adjacent shelters and UND student volunteers.
The Urgent Need for Action
Service providers described demand that has climbed steadily since the pandemic. City staff and nonprofit leaders pointed to rent burdens, limited affordable units, and seasonal pressures as key drivers locally—trends outlined by the City of Grand Forks Community Development office, which identifies affordable housing and homelessness prevention as priority needs in its planning documents City of Grand Forks Community Development.
Providers said the annual Point‑in‑Time count—a one‑night census coordinated each January under federal guidelines—regularly captures unsheltered and sheltered residents in Grand Forks County who lack stable housing, with additional families couch‑surfing or doubled up. The methodology is set by the North Dakota Continuum of Care and reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, offering a baseline for local planning and funding.
Attendees also heard personal stories from residents who’ve cycled between temporary stays and shelter beds, illustrating how a missed paycheck, medical bill, or vehicle breakdown can unravel housing stability. Their experiences echoed what local pantries and shelters report: more first‑time visitors, more working families seeking help, and longer waits for stable housing.
Community Responses and Solutions
Beyond naming the problem, the panel emphasized practical steps. Nonprofits highlighted eviction‑prevention funds, rental navigation, and rapid‑rehousing programs supported through a mix of charitable dollars and federal grants administered locally by the city. Faith partners outlined meal calendars and cold‑weather clothing drives, while campus groups from UND discussed food drives and volunteering.
Shelter and pantry leaders encouraged residents to match support to seasonal needs—hand warmers, socks, and bus passes in winter; hygiene kits and bottled water as weather warms. Donors were urged to consider recurring monthly gifts to steady budgets, and local businesses were invited to sponsor meals or host workplace drives in coordination with established agencies.
How to help right now:
Call 211 to be connected to food, shelter, and utility‑assistance resources; operators can make direct referrals and confirm hours for local providers.
Volunteer or donate to established agencies such as Northlands Rescue Mission (emergency shelter and meals) Northlands Rescue Mission and United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area (prevention and coordination) United Way GF–EGF.
If you’re a landlord with an open unit, contact the city’s housing partners via Community Development to learn how rental assistance programs can reduce your risk and fill units quickly City of Grand Forks Community Development.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Change
Speakers stressed that quick relief—meals, motel vouchers, utility assistance—must pair with long‑term fixes: more deeply affordable rentals, supportive housing for people exiting homelessness, and living‑wage jobs with predictable schedules. City planning documents and nonprofit strategic plans point to public‑private partnerships and new financing tools as key to scaling units over the next few years, with the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce convening employers and developers on workforce housing Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce.
Organizers also pressed for continued coordination: shared data between agencies, flexible funding for prevention, and clear referral pathways so residents don’t hit dead ends. For students and military families cycling in and out of the region, consistent outreach through UND, Grand Forks Public Schools, and the Grand Forks Air Force Base public affairs channels can make resources easier to find at the moment of need.
Final Thoughts: Community as the Key
The evening at Augustana Lutheran underscored a familiar Grand Forks lesson: when neighbors pull together, gaps close. From church basements to campus clubs and downtown businesses, local solidarity remains the community’s most reliable safety net—especially as temperatures drop and budgets tighten.
Awareness Weeks come and go, but the habits they spark can last. Setting a reminder to give monthly, signing up for a volunteer shift, or simply saving 211 in your phone are small steps that, collectively, change outcomes for families across the Red River Valley.
What to Watch
January’s federally required Point‑in‑Time count will offer the next snapshot of local homelessness and help shape funding priorities.
City budget and grant decisions early next year—including Community Development Block Grant allocations—will influence prevention, shelter, and housing capacity.
As winter deepens, providers anticipate higher demand; check agency channels for cold‑weather needs and warming‑center updates.
