Local governments no longer have to have available shelter before ordering homeless people to move. And one Fresno County supervisor wants to assert that ability with an anti-camping ordinance.

At Thursday news conference, Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau said that he will present an anti-camping ordinance to his board at the Aug. 6 meeting.

Law enforcement would be able to cite people living on the streets and remove their belongings. In certain cases, jailing them would also be a possibility, said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni.

Zanoni said enforcing the ordinance would be a last resort.

“Our goal is not to cite people and arrest people and incarcerate them because they’re unhoused. Our goal is to get them from being some sort of public nuisance,” Zanoni said.

But homeless advocates fear that absent available resources, the removal of property and issuance of tickets would deny people basic human needs and, in some cases, escalate mental health issues.

“Government has no way of providing a bed for every single person that’s experiencing homelessness and the Supreme Court recognized that and said ‘that’s not our job,’ ” Brandau said. “We don’t need to provide a bed. We still try and we spend tens of millions of dollars every year on the homeless community. Fresno County is not stopping that.”

Related Story: Newsom Issues Executive Order for Removal of Homeless Encampments in California

Newsom, Brandau on the Same Page

An executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday directed state agencies to come up with policies on taking down homeless encampments. He also urged local jurisdictions to do likewise.

Brandau told GV Wire that it was “nice to be on the same page for once” as the governor.

“It’s finally great to be working together for once,” Brandau said. “It took a little bit of time for the state to realize.”

No more excuses.

We’ve provided the time.

We’ve provided the funds.

Now it’s time for locals to do their job. https://t.co/oMQiWggJBa

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 25, 2024

Newsom’s directive to state agencies said an encampment could only be removed immediately if it presented an “imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure.” Without such a threat, agencies need to give 48-hour notice before removing property.

Brandau said there are details that need to be worked out with his proposal. Supervisors could also add to the ordinance before it is approved, he said.

Zanoni said there would be a warning period. For people who can’t or won’t pay the citation, jail would be a possibility.

Zanoni also said the sheriff holds personal belongings for a minimum of 90 days.

Homeless advocate Dez Martinez, director of the Fresno Homeless Union, said she’s never seen law enforcement keep anything from sweeps.

Brandau said he would have wanted funding to accompany Newsom’s executive order. In a news release, the governor cited $4.85 billion awarded to local jurisdictions to prevent and reduce homelessness.

The Americans for Civil Liberties Union said it’s government’s job to safeguard the health and safety of all residents.

“Punishing people for being unhoused won’t address underlying issues driving homelessness and skyrocketing housing costs in California,” a statement from the organization read.

County Lacks Homeless Beds: Advocates

Martinez said there is zero space in low-barrier shelters.

Fresno County operates 34 inpatient psychiatric beds, according to Amina Flores-Becker, deputy county administrative officer with Fresno County. They’ve contracted with developer RH Community Builders for another 180 behavioral health beds. Proposition 1, approved by voters this year, provides bond financing to fund the construction of more mental health facilities.

Fresno County’s homeless shelter, the Crossroads at Blackstone and Dakota avenues, is under construction.

Martinez said she would like to see more coordination with advocacy groups. She says it’s not right to remove important belongings such as blankets or dog food.

“I understand the trash and the buildup and all that stuff, let us help you clean it up,” Martinez said. “I’ve done that many times over the nine years that I’ve been out here.”

Her biggest concern is resources for people. She said she texts organizations every morning to see what shelter openings are available.

“It affects your mental health when you’re swept every single day and you’re told to move every single day; they even have cops going around at night now,” Martinez said. “It’s sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can end up killing you. It can cause psychosis.”