What's at stake?
The news comes as the Trump administration directs money away from long-term supportive housing, preferring transitional housing alternatives.
In what could be a sign of things to come, two Fresno supportive housing projects will close next month following federal funding cuts.
The Stasis Center on 4135 E Olive Ave, and Falcon Court on 4415 N Clark St — two supportive housing projects managed by Turning Point of California — will close in January due to a lack of funding, according to a Fresno County news release on Friday.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in November capped funding for Rapid Re-Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing programs — two bedrock outlets disabled and homeless people have been relying upon for years to help them transition into a life of stability.
The federal government is, instead, ordering local housing officials to prioritize short-term, transitional housing.
Katie Wilbur, the vice chair of the Fresno Madera Continuum of Care, told Fresnoland that the “sudden, radical” shift in priorities doesn’t align with the perspective of local housing officials. Continuum of care organizations are tasked with applying for and disbursing federal housing funds.
“We know that is not the right solution for everybody, which is why we have always prioritized permanent supportive housing,” Wilbur said.
Historically, the FMCoC spent most of its funding on Permanent Supportive Housing solutions. The new HUD plan now directs the local continuum of care groups to spend no more than 30% of federal funding on the programs.
Between the drastic cuts and shutdown-related delays, the Fresno-Madera region expects to lose about $5 million in funding.
“It’s definitely disruptive and very disappointing… ‘devastating’ is really the word,” Wilbur said.
Turning Point has already given their properties’ 80 tenants a 60-day notice to leave. Wilbur said the sites will close on Jan. 31.
Friday’s news brings the total number of scheduled Turning Pointe property closures in Fresno by next month to four.
Deputy County Administrative Officer Amina Flores-Becker said the shifting nature of both state and federal housing funds has sent local leaders scrambling to find alternative sourcing.
Authorities could convert the rehousing projects into transitional housing – but that change isn’t simple.
“There is an added caveat that those dollars for transitional housing are competitive,” Flores-Becker said.
The added pressure on local jurisdictions like Fresno comes as city and county officials, who say they can’t cover the staggering funding gaps.
“It’s not a practical solution,” Flores-Becker said. “Nobody has excess housing dollars laying around.”
Fresno County Supervisor Luis Chavez told Fresnoland that, as the Newsom and Trump administrations walk away from homelessness funding, local groups have an “opportunity” to take the lead.
Last month, Chavez said an agreement was in the works between the county and city that would outline, among other things, clear goals and responsibilities each jurisdiction has in solving local housing issues.
“I’m going to take that to all the rural communities, all 15 cities, to participate,” Chavez said, adding that such an agreement would be a first for California. “It’s never been done before.”
Chavez said the agreement has a tentative release date for early next year, and that his “number one priority” for 2026 is to get the plan off the ground.
“This is an opportunity to really recalibrate and redefine what the homelessness solutions are going to do,” Chavez said. “I’m confident that we’re going to get the job done.”
