City of Fresno begins enforcing illegal camping ban through new program
The goal of the Treatment First Program is to get unhoused people help before they are placed in jail for illegally camping.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A city ordinance banning unhoused people from illegally camping in public spaces across Fresno went into effect on Monday.
The Treatment First Program launched Monday across the city of Fresno.
It's how the city plans to enforce the new ordinance, which prevents unhoused people from illegally camping in public places.
The big difference now that this is in effect, mean all Fresno police officers have the ability to remove someone from the streets, and arrest them if they need to, but the goal -- is to get people help before it comes to that.
Once unhoused individuals are in contact with officers or outreach team members, people can move along if they are cooperative and not repeat offenders.
If people are a danger to themselves, they can be placed on a psychiatric hold. However, for those that are arrested, there's another option beyond jail time.
"Treatment first would mean that -- one of our services providers in the community -- should beds be available, can be taken there for treatment -- if they choose that approach the police report would in abeyance," said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.
If people complete the program, the police report will be thrown out.
CEO of 'We are not Invisible' and homeless advocate Dez Martinez, doesn't believe the initiative will be effective since there are so many people seeking services.
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"How's this helping with them knowing there's absolutely no beds, in mental health, in substance use, in low barrier -- there's no beds," said Martinez.
Dyer and city leaders say the facilities now have a program in place, where once people have funding and the help they need -- they have 30 days to exit the shelter.
They have also offered people hotel or motel vouchers if needed.
"If folks want help we will get creative together and come up with the solution to find, a person or a family, a place to shelter themselves, until something opens up," said Fresno City Councilmember, Tyler Maxwell.
Interim Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto says there will not be sweeps of clearing out all encampments, but this legislation now gives officers the ability to take action against those camping in public areas that are causing a nuisance.
"It might not be overnight, but as those calls come in and those particular individuals who are just chronically creating calls for service and fear in the neighborhoods or in the business districts, those are the individuals that now I think we are going to see the biggest difference that now we have a clear option with them, and it may be diversion, but it may be just going to Fresno county jail," said Chief Casto.
Fresno city leaders say they've invested half a billion dollars into helping the unhoused population, and the goal of the new ordinance is to continue getting people the services they need.
"We are not trying to take away a person's freedom as a result of an arrest, we are trying to restore them to some sort of normalcy -- where that normalcy is not drug addiction, alcohol, mental health and living on our streets in inhumane conditions," said Mayor Dyer.
All cases will be handled through the city attorney's office.
Violators can face a $1,000 fine or jail time.
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