\t\t\t\t\tWhat’s at stake?<\/p>\n
The count is a useful tool for local regions to help them better understand the needs of their local homeless population.<\/p>\n
The Fresno-Madera region launches its Point In Time Count<\/a> on Tuesday night \u2014 a routine federally required process that sees the country take stock of its local homeless population on a given night in January.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tuesday night\u2019s count will be the first managed by Fresno\u2019s County Administrative Office. It will also be the first to transition away from a visual, hand-count method of previous years in favor of a survey-based approach. The county said in a Tuesday morning news release that the new method\u00a0will help clean up the possibility for errors during the counting process, and provide a new standard for the region to compare going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhile the improved data collection may result in changes in PIT count numbers, it will not necessarily indicate sudden increases or decreases in homelessness,\u201d the Tuesday morning press release said. \u201cBecause of the shift in methodology, this year\u2019s results should not be directly compared with prior years\u2019 PIT count numbers. The FMCoC will use this year\u2019s data as a new baseline for future comparisons.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s count<\/a> showed continued overall homelessness growth in the Fresno-Madera region \u2014 a growth trend that has persisted now for over a decade. However, that data has yet to be certified by the federal government, leaving local cities and counties in the dark on a more detailed analysis.\u00a0<\/p>\n The last certified count in 2023<\/a> saw a decrease in homelessness in the City of Fresno<\/a>, in spite of overall growth in the region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Divided Fresno Board of Supervisors says they stand with ICE<\/p>\n The Fresno Board Of Supervisors approved through a split 3-2 vote to add language to the county\u2019s federal advocacy efforts to make clear that they \u201csupport federal laws removing criminal illegal aliens.\u201d<\/p>\n The vote was a last-minute addition by Supervisor Nathan Magsig following a request from Board Chair Garry Bredefeld during the supervisors\u2019 discussion on finalizing their federal advocacy goals. Bredfeld originally asked county staff to add \u201csupport federal laws and immigration customs and enforcement efforts to remove criminal, illegal aliens from our community\u201d under its criminal justice goals.<\/p>\n