The Marjorie Mason Center, located on Bullard Ave. just west of Blackstone Ave. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Fresno.
ERIC PAUL ZAMORA
ezamora@fresnobee.com
Fresno County’s leading domestic violence agency has seen a dramatic spike in service demand over the past year, resulting in a stretched-thin staff often managing emergency shelter and therapy services at or above capacity.
The Marjaree Mason Center saw a 33% increase in individuals served across all programs this fiscal year compared with last year, the nonprofit shared in a newsletter last week. It’s the only agency in the county to provide wraparound services, from crisis support to counseling, legal assistance and safe houses for victims of domestic abuse all in one place.
“I hate to say it, but we’re barely getting by,” Tiffany Apodaca, the center’s chief operating officer, told The Bee.
Apodaca and others can’t point to a specific cause for the surge in demand for support services over the past year. It’s also not obvious whether Fresno County’s increased need is unique, as specific data for domestic violence shelters across California is currently not readily available.
The center’s crisis helpline has been averaging nearly 900 calls a month. Compared to summertime last year, that’s around 100 to 200 more calls per month, Apodaca said. The helpline is used not only by victims, but also by friends, family, local law enforcement, medical providers and schools seeking help on behalf of someone experiencing domestic violence.
“These numbers represent real people reaching out for help, safety, and a path forward,” the newsletter said.
Around 200 people accessed the Marjaree Mason Centers’ in-person crisis walk-in services in July. That’s around 50 more than last year. Participation in the center’s community groups has also doubled over the past year.
The Marjorie Mason Center, located on Bullard Ave. just west of Blackstone Ave. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Staff struggles with demand
The increase in intake calls and walk-ins created a ripple effect that has impacted all services the center offers, Apodaca said, and staff is struggling to keep up.
There are around 12 staff members dedicated to answering the 24-hour crisis hotline, who are managing around 200 more calls a month this year compared to last year.
“The team is feeling the pressure,” Apodaca said. “Having to pick up all of that extra that we’re getting hit with, but we are navigating and trying to make sure that we’re finding that balance to make sure that each person gets touched.”
Despite the increase in demand, the center aims to serve anyone looking for services, Apodaca said.
If all 40 rooms at the safe houses are full, the center will often use contracts with outside housing providers for emergency shelter placement. The center will also try to connect people to outside clinicians and therapists if immediate help is needed when internal capacity for therapy is full.
The Marjorie Mason Center, located on Bullard Ave. just west of Blackstone Ave. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Fresno County has long had one of the highest rates of domestic violence
On top of a climbing demand for services, the Central Valley has also seen five domestic violence-related homicides in the past month, including a recent murder-suicide in Fresno.
Apodaca said it should be known that “the most vital lethality time in a relationship when it comes to domestic violence is within the first two weeks of someone making the decision to finally leave.”
Fresno County has long had one of the highest per capita rates of domestic violence calls to law enforcement in California, ranking at or near the top among the state’s largest counties, according to the California Department of Justice.
From January through June 2026, local law enforcement agencies across the county received 27,011 reports of domestic violence. The Fresno Police Department saw the most, with over 20,500 reports, according to data compiled by the Marjaree Mason Center.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the Marjaree Mason Centers’ confidential, 24/7 helpline at 559-233-4357 or call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233.
A profile of Margorie Mason is seen on the wall at the entrance to the Marjorie Mason Center, located on Bullard Ave. just west of Blackstone Ave. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com 
The Marjorie Mason Center, located on Bullard Ave. just west of Blackstone Ave. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
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