FRESNO, Calif. — Homelessness remains one of Fresno’s most urgent challenges, but local leaders say that real progress is being made, despite the ongoing difficulties.
With the support of Governor Gavin Newsom’s statewide initiative to combat homelessness, Fresno is making strides to provide people with the resources they need to secure stable, permanent housing.
As part of a united effort to help people facing homelessness, Fresno’s city, county, and state leaders came together to host the city’s first-ever Resource Fair at Hope Pointe Emergency Shelter.
This event aimed to connect individuals with the critical services and support they need, helping them take the next steps toward long-term housing solutions.
The fair was designed as a one-stop shop for those in need, offering a wide range of services from housing assistance to health care, social services, and more.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer acknowledged that the city still faces significant housing issues but pointed to the impact of coordinated efforts in recent years.
Over the past five years, partnerships with local organizations like the Poverello House and Fresno Mission have successfully housed thousands of individuals.
Mayor Dyer said in the news conference on Monday, “We have housed 10,500 people.”
While the challenge is far from over, he says 53% of those individuals have moved into permanent housing and 95% are still there two years later.
Despite these successes, Dyer was quick to emphasize that for every person placed into housing, there seems to be another person who falls into homelessness.
This is why local leaders say collaboration between city, county, and state agencies is crucial to making a real difference.
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig praised the impact of the Resource Fair, sharing how it has already touched the lives of many in the community.
“When I first got here, I asked the question how many people were served today? I was shocked to hear 60. These are 60 lives that will continue to be changed for the positive right here in Fresno County, specifically in the city of Fresno,” he said.
Zach Darrah, CEO of the Poverello House, highlighted the benefits of bringing various services together in one place.
The goal is to reduce the time it takes for individuals to secure housing.
According to Darrah, by providing services directly at Hope Pointe, they can help people transition out of homelessness faster.
He said, “The faster that we can end homelessness for our guests here at Hope Pointe, the faster that we can bring someone else in off of the street and do the same services with them to end their homelessness permanently.”
One of the key services at the fair was the on-site DMV assistance, which helped people obtain critical identification.
Darrah explained that one of the first steps in getting someone into permanent housing is making sure they have all their necessary documents, such as a valid ID.
This can often be a major roadblock for individuals trying to access housing.
“Over 30 people got an ID card today. That is a huge, huge help to the work that we do every single day.” Darrah explained.
Normally, Darrah said obtaining an ID can take weeks or even months, but by bringing DMV services to the shelter, this process is drastically sped up.
Local leaders are hopeful that initiatives like this will continue to provide the support needed to reduce homelessness and help people rebuild their lives.
The Resource Fair continues on Tuesday from 9 AM to 2 PM, offering vital support to those experiencing homelessness in Fresno.