Local nonprofit sees rise in homeless students in need

Matthew's Voice Project serves over 1,000 students in Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Horace school districts.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A local non-profit organization that helps homeless students in the Fargo, North Dakota area says it is seeing an increase in the number of students in need each year. The Matthew's Voice Project provides funding and resources to around 1,000 students across several school districts, but the growing need is posing challenges for the organization.

Why it matters

Homelessness among students is an ongoing issue that impacts educational outcomes and overall well-being. As the number of homeless students rises, nonprofits like Matthew's Voice Project play a critical role in supporting these vulnerable youth and ensuring they have access to essential resources.

The details

The Matthew's Voice Project serves homeless students in the Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, and Horace school districts by providing them with funding for needed resources. Interim Executive Director Calli Adamson Bakken says that as the number of homeless students increases, so does the demand for the organization's services. This is posing additional challenges in being able to continuously meet the growing and more complex needs of the students they assist.

  • The Matthew's Voice Project will be hosting its 2nd Annual Impact without Excess Fundraiser on April 21, 2026 at the Dakota Medical Foundation.

The players

Matthew's Voice Project

A local non-profit organization that helps provide funding and resources to homeless students in the Fargo, North Dakota area.

Calli Adamson Bakken

The Interim Executive Director of the Matthew's Voice Project.

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What they’re saying

“Being able to respond urgently is an incredible privilege that we're able to accomplish, but I think with that comes additional challenges to just being able to continue to meet the growing needs and the difference in complexity that these students are able to comfortably disclose.”

— Calli Adamson Bakken, Interim Executive Director

The takeaway

As homelessness among students continues to rise, community-based nonprofits like the Matthew's Voice Project play a vital role in supporting these vulnerable youth and ensuring they have access to essential resources and services. However, the growing demand poses ongoing challenges for these organizations to keep up with the increasing need.