Fargo whistleblower exposes disturbing conditions inside YWCA home

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - A Fargo man says what he saw inside a YWCA Cass Clay home left him shaken and questioning whether children there are safe.

The man, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, told Valley News Live he was hired to do a job at the home last week but instead ended up documenting what he describes as unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.

“The first thing I noticed was the smell,” he said. “It smelled like feces and dog urine.”

He said he began recording video as he walked through the home, which is part of a YWCA program that provides housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence and homelessness.

“I walked across the hall to the children’s room, which was filled with dirty clothes,” he said. “The mattresses were just unbearable, disgusting.”

The man said he saw dog feces on the floor, bugs crawling in what appeared to be rotten food, and trash and debris spread throughout the house. He told Valley News Live that “no one should live like this — especially young children.”

After his walk-through, he said a caseworker arrived. He claims she appeared unconcerned about the conditions.

“I feel like she didn’t have a care in the world about the state of the house, how the kids were living,” he said.

YWCA Cass Clay says its mission is to help women and children escape violence and homelessness, operating more than 90 housing units in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Men are not allowed to stay overnight in those units.

The whistleblower said that during his visit, it was clear two men had been staying in the home with the woman and her children. Concerned by what he saw and what he describes as a lack of urgency from staff, he said he called the YWCA and spoke with the CEO.

“This is a government-funded program. Their whole goal is to take children out of situations like this,” he said.

He told Valley News Live he felt brushed off after raising his concerns.

“I feel like no one did their job from top to bottom,” he said. “These kids shouldn’t be in this environment. Let alone you know what kind of environment they’re in and you’re still refusing to do something about it.”

The man also filed a report with Child Protective Services. He says CPS told him there is already an open investigation involving that address.

Valley News Live requested an interview with YWCA Cass Clay. The organization declined but provided a written statement:

“Every day, YWCA Cass Clay assists approximately 350 women and families who have experienced homelessness, violence, and trauma in our community. In doing so, YWCA is legally and ethically bound to uphold confidentiality, including whether someone is receiving services from our organization. YWCA requires participants in its Supportive Housing Program to sign leases, follow rules, and agree to regular inspections of their apartments. When concerns arise, YWCA involves the appropriate authorities and makes reports when required by law. In every case, our focus is on providing safety, support, and a path toward healing and long‑term stability.”