Fresno-Madera Homelessness Up 9% Despite Enforcement Push, New Count Shows

Homelessness in Fresno and Madera Counties increased 9.2% between 2023 and 2025, according to verified data from the federally-required Point in Time count released by the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care. The increase comes despite Fresno’s implementation of a No Camping Ordinance in 2024 that local leaders expected would reduce visible homelessness.

The 2025 count found 4,905 people experiencing homelessness across both counties on a single night in late January, with 3,000 (62%) unsheltered. Of those counted, 1,400 people (29%) reported a substance abuse disorder and 1,500 (31%) reported a serious mental illness. The fastest-growing demographic is adults aged 55 and older, with an estimated 700 to 750 elderly homeless individuals across the region.

Preliminary, unverified data from the 2026 count suggests a decrease, showing 1,619 unsheltered and 1,635 sheltered individuals. However, the 2026 count excluded people who refused to participate, raising accuracy concerns. FMCoC chair Laura Moreno acknowledged to the Fresno Bee in 2023 that “I’m absolutely sure we are missing people.”

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Since Fresno’s No Camping Ordinance took effect in September 2024, police have made over 2,000 arrests and citations of unsheltered people — more than the total number of unsheltered individuals reported in the count. Records show the Fresno Police Department’s Homeless Assistance Response Team (HART) has arrested or cited many individuals multiple times.

Desiree Martinez, founder of the nonprofit We Are Not Indivisible, noted that “we have seen multiple shelters and housing programs close or begin closing” since the 2026 count was conducted in January, with “new housing developments intended to serve unhoused residents” remaining “vacant while people continue sleeping outside.”

Mayor Jerry Dyer is proposing to fund a second HART team in the FY 2027 budget at an annual cost of $907,000, comprising one sergeant and four officers. At recent city budget hearings, Council member Miguel Arias and other council members supported the expansion, though no community members spoke in favor of it during public comment. Community members instead advocated for rent control, low-income housing, tiny home villages, and safe camps.

The Breakdown

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires communities to conduct Point in Time counts to track homelessness levels, which determines federal and state funding for shelters and services
• Fresno and Madera both have ordinances punishing unsheltered people with fines up to $1,000 and jail time
• The 2026 count methodology changed to exclude people who refused the survey, making year-over-year comparisons problematic
• Older adults on fixed incomes are the fastest-growing homeless population, driven by rising rents
• Mayor Dyer stated the No Camping Ordinance “had no effect” on decreasing homelessness when asked directly

What This Means for You

As a Fresno voter, you’re seeing your city shift substantial resources toward enforcement — over 2,000 arrests and citations since September, plus a proposed $907,000 for a second enforcement team — while homelessness measurably increased and advocates report shelters closing. The count that determines federal and state funding for actual housing and services is acknowledged as inaccurate by officials themselves. Your City Council will vote on whether to fund the second HART team as part of the FY 2027 budget, a decision that reflects a policy choice between enforcement and housing-focused approaches to homelessness in your community.