Residents in Fergus Falls may have noticed the new construction activity taking place across the street from the YMCA on north Friberg Ave. The Fergus Falls Housing and Redevelopment Authority (FFHRA) broke ground in early November on Garitz Grove, a Permanent Supportive Housing project slated to open late in 2023. The facility will be a 24-unit apartment that provides housing for residents experiencing mental illness, mental health or substance abuse challenges. Mikel Olson, Executive Director of the FFHRA said, “There has long been a need for this type of housing in Fergus Falls.”
Olson credits many partners that helped make this a reality, particularly Otter Tail County Human Services staff who initiated the conversation. “Stable housing is absolutely fundamental to people’s health and well-being. Permanent Supportive Housing provides this,” said Deb Sjostrom, Director, Otter Tail County Human Services. “It is a proven solution that combines affordable housing with services that help people who face complex challenges to live with stability, autonomy and dignity. Otter Tail County Human Services is looking forward to this housing option to support people in our community,” added Sjostrom.
Olson adds that a group of local service providers began meeting in 2019 to discuss a creative solution to the ongoing problem of people whose challenges made evictions and homelessness a possibility. Supportive housing is proven to be a cost-effective way for communities to decrease costs that may otherwise be spent on emergency rooms, jail, hospitals and shelter.
This facility also meets the HRAs goal of increasing the availability of decent, safe and affordable housing. A grand opening will take place when the facility is complete. Funding for construction of Garitz Grove is the result of a successful application from MN Housing and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Other partners in the project include the City of Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County Human Services, Beyond Shelter, Prairie Design, Project One Construction, MAHUBE-OTWA, Lutheran Social Services, Productive Alternatives, Lakeland Mental Health, Lake Region Healthcare and Freedom Resources.