Bill McEwen
With Street2Home, Fresno Agrees on Plan to Cut Homelessness
It’s rare to get politicians to agree on anything.
But, in Fresno County, there’s universal agreement that homelessness is the No. 1 issue.
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Bill McEwen
Opinion
All Oars in the Same Direction
That’s good news for people living on the streets, businesses absorbing the costs and headaches created by homeless people, and residents weary and wary of aggressive panhandlers.
As Fresno County’s top administrator, Jean Rousseau, explained it Tuesday the new Street2Home Fresno County board also will help local agencies tap into federal dollars beyond those aimed at the chronically homeless. Two segments of the homeless population that would benefit from better funding: victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.
And, as H Spees told the Fresno City Council on Thursday morning, the expectation is that Street2Home will earn the confidence of the community and inspire more private donations.
“This will allow us to address homelessness in a way that is smart and have the results reported back,” said Spees, who is Mayor Lee Brand’s chief advisor on homelessness. “This connects us in a way that has the biggest bang for the buck.”
Related Story: As Homelessness Surges in California, So Does a Backlash
Shared 14-Point Plan on Homelessness
So there’s no misunderstanding: Street2Home won’t be the recipient of local, state, and federal funding. Its foundation is a 14-point plan agreed to by the city, county, Fresno-Madera Continuum of Care, and Fresno Housing Authority. Street2Home’s charge is to coordinate planning, recommend strategies, and track the results.
If an agency is wasting dollars on things that don’t work, taxpayers should know that. And the agency should change tactics.
The reality is, the city and county have been accelerating their efforts to get people off the street by more accurately diagnosing why they are homeless and providing proper assistance.
It could be that a family can afford rent but doesn’t have the money for the deposit. Or the loss of a job. Or long-term substance abuse and mental health issues. As was said by Spees and many of the council members Thursday, homelessness is complex; there are no simple solutions.
Related Story: Bredefeld Says Fresno Is 'Under Siege' by Homeless People
Fresno Faring Better Than Other West Coast Cities
While the city’s latest homeless count indicated a 16% increase over 2018 to 1,416 people, Fresno is faring better than most large West Coast cities. In fact, the city and county had reduced homelessness — especially among veterans — before the numbers began rising two years ago. Street2Home hopes to turn the tide again with an added emphasis on homeless prevention.
“This is exactly what we want to see,” said Patterson, specifically citing the fact that the residents there were treated with dignity. Patterson also gave high marks to city and county officials for how they had teamed up to address the challenges.
In regard to Street2Home, the council approved it 7-0. The county’s blessing came 4-1, with Steve Brandau opposed.
Some State Policies Actually Add to Homelessness Problem
While the state is increasing funding to cities to reduce homelessness, its policies continue to add to the problem.
In California, the hurdles to building affordable housing are many. In addition, voter-approved jail sentencing reforms have produced a catch-and-release reality that provides little motivation for drug addicts to seek treatment. They live on the streets because they can. Meanwhile, they steal everything in sight to support their habits.
Street2Home won’t end homelessness, but it’s a big step toward doing the best that we can.
