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The issue of homelessness in Fresno County is not new, having been a part of our community since our foundation more than a century ago. However, an issue once seen as a blight or nuisance limited to specific pockets of our county has followed in the steps of our state and much of the country, exploding into a legitimate crisis and threatening to grow exponentially unless meaningful, immediate action is taken.
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Nathan Magsig
Opinion
It’s a tremendous effort that no one entity can take on alone with any hope of making progress. This is why so many are coming together to tackle an issue that affects us all.
Street2Home Identifies 14 Priorities
To address the complexities and challenges of the homelessness crisis here in our own backyard, the county, cities, and community-based organizations have banded together to align our services and approach. In June, the county of Fresno, with input and support from all cities, adopted 14 priorities which set the foundation for addressing homelessness.
In October, the Board of Supervisors approved the founding structure of Street2Home (S2H) Fresno County, which will serve as the countywide collective impact initiative to maintain focus on our adopted homelessness priorities.
From 2010 through 2015 our region experienced a reduction in homelessness. However, more recently, homelessness is on the rise. According to the 2019 Point in Time Count, Fresno County identified 2,131 homeless individuals, marking a 16% increase since 2018.
The Many Causes of Homelessness
So, what’s changed?
We know we have a housing stock problem. The number of new homes is not keeping pace with population growth. If housing isn’t as readily available, especially affordable housing, it will cost more for individuals to rent or purchase available housing units.
Also, we know we need more behavioral health services. Individuals who are homeless due to substance use or mental health issues may be unable to find a job or a place to live or may find it hard to become engaged in services, in order to live stably in the community.
In 2011 the state Legislature passed AB-109, which transferred many offenders from state prison and parole custody to county jails and probation to relieve overcrowded prisons. As of October 14, there were 625 homeless residents under Fresno County Probation Department supervision. Additionally, another 543 individuals should be under probation supervision, but their whereabouts are unknown, and many may be homeless.
Under Prop. 47, Drug Abusers Skip Treatment
Proposition 47, passed in 2014, was aimed at reducing crime by reallocating financial resources. However, it appears to have had an unintended opposite effect. In 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported that law enforcement officials were “blaming Proposition 47 for allowing repeat offenders… to continue breaking the law with little consequence.”
Also in 2015, a spokesman for George Gascon, San Francisco’s district attorney, said that Proposition 47 “made it easier for drug offenders to avoid mandated treatment programs.” The mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, also suggested that the law may explain why his city’s crime rates began to rise following years of crime reduction.
A 2015 Washington Post story quoted San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who described Proposition 47 as “a virtual get-out-of-jail-free card.” She and other police chiefs expressed concern about a rising number of “frequent flier” criminals – people exploiting Proposition 47 to commit crimes. She cited one criminal who allegedly brought a calculator into a store to avoid stealing more than $950 worth of goods, the dollar figure set to determine the difference between a misdemeanor and felony.
We Must All Work Together
Our ability to assist this population — many of whom may find it difficult to accept help — will be key in determining our future success in reducing Fresno County’s homeless problem.
Combating homelessness will require a multi-pronged approach with all stakeholders, including all public agencies, working with one another. With all of us joining together, we can make the greatest impact in shrinking the number of homeless in our community.
About the Author
Nathan Magsig is chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He represents District 5 encompassing eastern Fresno County.
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