From:
To: Clerk
Subject: Public comment- 9:15 Community Needs
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025 11:08:17 AM
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Much of what I bring forth is repetition of what has been asked for in the past, but is needed.
There re a lot of needs to be addressed.
AS are as addressing community engagement, accountability, and ensuring that not only the programs that are implemented reflect the needs of those who are dealing with being unsheltered, but HOW it is operated meets those needs, we need to work towards a means of centering those with lived experience at the table. I am aware that FMCOC has has lived experience advisory, but the City of Fresno itself needs to work towards efforts like a live advisory board and work on ways for more of the community who is unhoused to listen and make changes driven by those with lived experience, including accessibility issues.. I do appreciate that some of the meetings were held at some shelters and encourage the department and outreach to work to inform and educate those in the community about these meetings prior.
I believe that FMCOC is working on a grievance reporting system. The department should work to ensure that issues raised for any programs would be adequately. We need to ensure that every person is treated with dignity, which is key to the success of a program.
Affordable housing is the greatest need for those who are unhoused and the greatest barrier we face, as those who have accepted services cannot reach their goal if it’s not available.
We do need to continue to have shelters. As sheltered close, I am particularly concerned for those most vulnerable. We need to ensure that there is an increase in shelter beds for domestic violence survivors and that there is never not a bed for someone fleeing DV.
We need small, well managed safe camps/lots to provide a safe place with sanitation while they wait for permanent housing, such as in Kern County, which would allow case workers to better find them and a possibility of coming and going to work and other places and having their belongings more secure, as well as access to kitchen accommodations.
We need to have accessible storage units for those who are unhoused, such as in San Diego, San Francisco, and other cities. This would allow for people to come and go to work, services, and other needs without worrying about belongings, especially irreplaceable items.
We need to meet the needs of our community members during weather that is detrimental to their health. We need winter long warming centers. While I understand that the community centers were not originally created for this need, the city has emphasized the safety of its community. I have already heard from someone that a woman died due to the cold storm weather after HART took her blankets. I know of other times that we have lost people when the weather wasn’t cold enough for the centers to be open. Having continuously open centers helps overcome accessibility barriers, as it is hard for word to get to people and prepare to travel to the centers. It would also allow people to have more access to service providers as a familyI brought to the shelter during a night that wouldn’t have been open was able to connect with PH and get into a shelter. It should be noted the with the Poverello House in management of the warming centers, we have those who can address previous
concerns.
As well, with Fresno’s extreme heat, our community needs more access to water. We need water stations for people to fill up water bottles nd need fountains in more places.
As sanitation is a concern, we need more trash cans. People have also told me and request trash bags to dispose of rubbish.
Regarding community services for those who are unhoused, a major ask that I have previously mentioned is a job program that helps with accessibility issues. Utilizing the shelters to have job assistance and preparation, as well as computer access would be beneficial. Also, identifying and working with potential employers. My first Community needs workshop years ago, I met someone in construction who said they would train people who are unhoused. I heard this from someone from CalTrans a few years ago. Building more connections, in addition to what PH is doing with their kitchen, would be a vital resource, but would also require help with other barriers, such as access to needs, safe storage of belongings. We also must continue to recognize the need to address the mistreatment by HART and how this hinders all of these efforts. I have talked to many people who said they have jobs, but HART took away belongings they needed for their jobs, like tools, work clothing, bicycles, phones, etc.