Ruth Meiers Finding Room For More Beds - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

With more people moving to the state of North Dakota, there's a bigger need for more beds for the homeless.

Some of the people who are staying at shelters, might be able to afford a place to live, but just can't find one.

"We have received calls from pretty much every state in the country, for people that are coming in here," Executive Director Jaclyn Bugbee said.

With the housing shortage across the state, Ruth Meiers is being forced to make room for an increase number of people needing a place to lay their head at night.

That's why they made renovations at the Family Shelter.

"It used to be small rooms and people would live in different rooms, so we opened all of that up and serve more in more of a dormitory style," Bugbee said.

They've also made some more room at their soup kitchen.

"We're adding additional beds, we've found some additional beds that we can put one or two more in each of the rooms," Bugbee said.

Now they're working with various sources on how they can expand further.

"Because based on this next stage of renovations we won't be able to expand any further in this location, and so we're looking at how can we accommodate throughout the winter," Bugbee said.

In addition to making more room, they're also opening back up Joanne's clinic.

"We are in the process of restocking shelves, and getting all of our orders and all of our referrals ready, we've hired a nurse," Bugbee said.

Giving those without a place to call home, a warm place to spend the night.

Joanne's clinic is expected to be open on October 23rd.