Captain’s Corner: Unhoused and HART

Written by Capt. Don Gross, Northeast District

in collaboration with Steven Montes | HART Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization Manager

Navigating the complex issue of homelessness requires a delicate balance of compassion and practicality. While it’s essential to enforce new legislation that sets parameters on encampments across the city, we must also approach this challenge with empathy and understanding. By recognizing the humanity of our unhoused neighbors and providing them with the necessary support and resources, we can work towards creating a safer and more inclusive community for everyone. This dual approach ensures that we address the immediate concerns of public safety and sanitation while also fostering long-term solutions that uplift and empower those in need.

The Fresno Police Department, in conjunction with City of Fresno Homeless and Housing, comprise the Home Assistance Response Team, known as HART.  The purpose of the team is to provide a field response to issues that unhoused can create in your neighborhood.  Whether it be homeless camps, sleeping in public spaces or private property, or gathering of items that cause blight, the HART team is there to assist.  

During 2024 HART responded to 4851 homeless camps, contacted 6966 subjects and made 254 arrests for FMC 10-2101 (Camping in a Public Place).

FMC 10-2101 was enacted at the end of September to curb the homeless camps that had spread around the city.  In October the City enacted FMC 10-2501, which strengthened trespassing laws, allowing private business owners to enforce private property rights against trespassers at a privately owned location open to the public.  What this allows business owners to do is prohibit persons from remaining on any business premises, after being asked to leave.

So, what does this mean for you?  It means that you have options if you observe people camping unlawfully or creating blight in your neighborhood.  The fastest and most effective way to alert the HART unit is to use 3-1-1 [or 621-CITY (2489)] and submit a request with the One Call Center. The One Call Center will ask a series of questions to effectively route the service request to the appropriate HART member. Answering these questions as accurately as possible is important to get the most efficient resolution of your service request.

The questions are as follows:

1. Location of Encampment & Property Type
2. Site Conditions Addressed
   1. Camping
   2. Use of tent, shanty, or structure
   3. Bathing or washing person/belongings
   4. Urinating/defecating
   5. Use of Open flame, BBQ, fire pit, etc.
   6. Garbage, trash or debris (will be cleared by Sanitation if public easement or city property)
   7. Criminal activity of any kind (refer the reporting party to Fresno PD to report depending on response)
3. Number of Individuals, if possible
   1. 1 – 2
   2. 3 – 9
   3. 10 or more
4. Any children present at the location
   1. YES
   2. NO
5. Any animals present at the location
   1. Please specify: Dog, Cat, etc.
   2. Provide number, if known
   3. N/A, if none
6. Reporting party name and number
   1. While not required this information is important for follow-up, if needed.

Please note, if the issue is regarding an immediate public safety issue, please utilize 9-1-1. Currently, HART requests cannot be submitted through the Fresgo App.

Resource: Housing & Community Development