Mayor proposes second HART team in Fresno budget. Is it the wrong approach?
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer’s proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year includes adding a second Homeless Assistance Response Team, which some advocates say displaces and destroys the property of unhoused residents rather than providing long-term housing solutions.
A handful of residents spoke out against a second homeless task force, also known as HART, after Dyer presented the record-breaking $2.55 billion proposed budget to the City Council on Thursday. They argued that HART’s actions when they dismantle homeless encampments or arrest homeless people have been cruel and criminalize homelessness rather than trying to solve it.
One of those advocates was Brandi Nuse-Villegas, an artist who has partnered with the homeless community to create memorial portraits honoring those who have passed. She said she knew of an unhoused resident whose deceased mother’s ashes had been thrown away by HART team members as they removed a homeless encampment. She heard of other instances when medication, identification and phones were thrown out. Another advocate described an instance when someone's dog was accidentally put in a garbage truck.
“We as a city should be ashamed of what we’ve allowed HART to do to our community members,” Nuse-Villegas said to council Thursday during the public comment period.
The city’s HART team initiative, introduced in 2022, aims to address homelessness by connecting unhoused individuals to shelters and services like mental health support and substance treatment while also clearing encampments on public and private property. It’s made up of staff from Poverello House who offer services, Fresno police who provide security and can issue citations or make arrests for illegal camping, and the city’s code enforcement division who deal with blight. City leaders have described the approach as compassionate.
The second HART team would be comprised of one sergeant and four officers. It’s one of only five additions to the FY 2027 general fund, Dyer said in his presentation to council.
HART team members help enforce Fresno’s 2024 controversial anti-camping ordinance, which bans sleeping, sitting, lying or storing personal property in public spaces. Under the ordinance, homeless people can be arrested for illegal camping and are encouraged to enter drug treatment as an alternative to facing charges. The law is widely viewed as ineffective at reducing homelessness, with minimal participation in its treatment option.
Arieana Castellanos is a mental health professional and member of the Fresnas for a People’s Budget. She said she would like to see a housing first model — an approach that prioritizes providing permanent, stable housing immediately to individuals, without preconditions, such as sobriety, income or treatment compliance — implemented rather than HART.
“I’m so embarrassed that we’re going to have a second HART team, and we don’t have the actual infrastructure and resources for wraparound services to make sure that we’re not just pushing people around,” Castellanos said.
One resident thanked Dyer for proposing to add a second HART team during public comment on Thursday, arguing that many unhoused individuals are aware of the services available to them and opt out.
Existing levels of services, such as mobile showers, warming centers and cooling centers will be maintained in the new budget, Dyer said.
None of the council members raised concerns over adding a second HART team to the budget, and it appeared to be well- received well overall by the council, with only minor suggestions anticipated. That’s in part because Dyer planned ahead of time with councilmembers individually to discuss their priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.
“This is a good looking budget,” Councilmember Analisa Perea said. “I think there are a few areas where we can do a little better, but overall, I think this is an incredible start.”
What’s in the budget?
The city had an estimated $34.5 million deficit caused by a mix of inflation, contract obligations, labor agreements, facility leases, maintenance and software agreements.
To close the gap and balance the budget, the city asked all departments to cut expenses by 5% for the third year in a row. Plus, all departments, except for fire, will also be asked to hold a staffing vacancy or attrition rate of 6.18%
Dyer highlighted several initiatives in his fiscal year 2027 budget, including:
- $1 billion to support 470 major capital improvement projects, including a 911 communication center, a fire station, the regional fire training center, as well as a $42 million to support the city’s first senior center
- $74.8 million in road maintenance and sidewalk repair under the Pave More Now initiative, Measure C and some state funding
- $2.1 million for council district infrastructure projects, in addition to $2.1 million that will carry over from FY2026
- $500,000 to increase trash removal and pressure washing in the Tower District and downtown
- $553,000 to plant 1,000 new trees, an initiative spearheaded by Councilmember Tyler Maxwell
- $300,000 for Advance Peace from the cannabis community benefit fund
- $225,000 for contracts to support spay and neuter for an estimate 1,800 cats and dogs, in addition to animal center services
- $100,000 to support various special events and the Historical Society as part of the county’s 250th anniversary celebration
Budget hearings begin June 8, and the final adoption is anticipated June 23.
This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 6:19 PM.