Governor’s SAFE Task Force and local partners clear homeless encampments in Fresno and San Diego

What you need to know: Following successful recent actions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Anaheim, Governor Gavin Newsom's statewide State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force today announced removing homeless encampments on state property in San Diego and Fresno and helped those residing there find better options.

FRESNO - Furthering California's work to remove homeless encampments on state property and connect people with better options, Governor Newsom's SAFE Taskforce removed encampments at Highway 180 in Fresno and along the 805 freeway in San Diego - helping connect those living there with medical services and housing.

Living in a dangerous and unsanitary encampment should never be someone's only option and in California, we have built systems of care to provide people with safer, better choices. This week, our teams worked with our local partners in Fresno and San Diego to address homeless encampments on state property - and connect people with support and care.

These ongoing efforts happening up and down the state demonstrate the power of partnership and how together we can address homelessness with urgency, compassion, and accountability - improving safety and quality of life for everyone.

Governor Gavin Newsom

"In Fresno, we take action to address homelessness with real results, Since launching Project Off-Ramp in 2021, we've helped over 10,000 people transition from encampments into shelter," said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. "Many have since moved into permanent housing. The state has also stepped up - helping clear encampments and install fencing and barriers to prevent people from returning. I want to thank the Governor's Office, Caltrans, CHP, and the SAFE Task Force for recognizing how important this is to the safety and well-being of our community."

"Pairing resources to assist people transiting from street homelessness to shelters or housing before removing unsafe encampments is how we make meaningful progress," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. "I'm grateful Governor Newsom is supporting our efforts by bringing together state agencies through the SAFE Task Force, which builds on our successful new partnership with CalTrans to clear unsafe encampments along our freeways."

"Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, the SAFE Task Force is helping Californians transition from encampments to safer, more stable futures," said California Transportation Secretary Omishakin. "Through the dedicated work of Caltrans clearing encampments, DMV providing essential identification services and CHP supporting public safety, CalSTA and its departments are proud to be part of this compassionate, coordinated effort to restore dignity, improve safety and deliver real solutions for our communities."

"Housing First is an evidence-based practice proven to end homelessness," said California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Tomiquia Moss. "Through the SAFE Task Force, California is putting that principle into action - meeting people where they are, connecting them to housing and services, and focusing on what truly works: a home."

"The SAFE Task Force continues to demonstrate the power of coordinated, compassionate outreach," said Kim Johnson, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. "The operations in San Diego and Fresno connected people to critical safety net services and housing supports, showing what's possible when we lead with care, partnership, and a shared goal. This dedicated effort is meeting people where they are and supporting them on a path to stability and well-being."

Fresno operation

The Fresno encampment had at times attracted up to 50 people along a pedestrian footbridge over Highway 180. Caltrans had cleared the encampment multiple times over the past year, collecting 63 cubic yards of debris, but people kept returning. In response, Caltrans installed barriers including rock deterrents to prevent repopulation. Caltrans also cleared an encampment yesterday Westbound Highway 180 to Northbound Highway 41 Connector, which was near a residential neighborhood.

Caltrans cleaned the sites by removing 6 cubic yards of debris and hazardous waste. Caltrans will next install barriers to discourage people from returning in the future.

"Having state, county, and city resources on one site enables unhoused individuals to obtain the vital documents and resources necessary to end their homelessness," said Poverello House CEO Zachary D. Darrah. "Poverello House is grateful to partner with the State of California's SAFE Task Force and the City and County on this project. We all know that resolving a person's homelessness requires community collaboration."

"Encampments threaten the safety and well-being of everyone involved," said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. "By working closely with our state and local partners, we are delivering results, helping individuals transition to safer environments and strengthening public safety across California."

The SAFE Taskforce also worked closely with local City of Fresno officials to plan a community outreach fair next week to help people experiencing homelessness with housing, medical care, drug treatment, counseling, and other critical services.

B-Roll and SOTs from Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and CAL TRANS Dist. 6 Assistant Director Michael Navarro SAFE Taskforce Encampment Cleanup 10-21-25.mp4

San Diego operation

On Tuesday, SAFE Taskforce members also cleared encampments along the 805 Freeway in San Diego. This encampment has had up to 30 individuals at various times. Like in Fresno, people kept returning to the encampment after it was cleared. In response, Caltrans collected 33 cubic yards of debris and litter and will next install strong fencing and large rocks to deter camping.

"Encampments pose serious challenges for all members of the community, most of all our unhoused neighbors living in these unsafe conditions," said PATH CEO Jennifer Hark Dietz. "We know that when encampment response efforts are led with trauma-informed services, unsheltered individuals are more likely to accept connections to shelter and housing that can help end their homelessness. That's why PATH outreach teams are grateful to be part of these coordinated efforts that create real and lasting improvements."

The work restored the natural beauty of the area and safeguarded the seasonal drainage culvert from debris. Caltrans also helped people living there connect with services and supports at a CARE Resource event last week.

About the Governor's SAFE Task Force

California's SAFE Task Force brings together expertise and programs from across state agencies to target encampments. The SAFE Task Force not only clears encampments but also brings together emergency management, social services, health care, drug treatment, and public safety. SAFE focuses on removing encampments on state property in California's most populous cities. SAFE has now cleared encampment in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anaheim, Fresno, and San Diego-with more to come.

This adds to work that has been underway since 2021, with Caltrans having removed more than 19,000 encampments on state right-of-way and collected approximately 354,000 cubic yards of litter and debris.

Strategies that work

Governor Newsom is the first Governor to make addressing homelessness - a decades in the making issue - a top priority. Since taking office in 2019, Governor Newsom has created unprecedented policy and structural changes in state government to help California better address its housing and homelessness crises, including additional and unprecedented support for local governments, stronger accountability and enforcement, transformational changes to mental health services and state government, and groundbreaking reforms to create more housing, faster than ever before.

Turning around a nationwide crisis

The Newsom administration is making significant progress in reversing decades of inaction on homelessness.

Last year, the state held the growth of unsheltered homelessness to just 0.45%, compared to a national increase of nearly 7%. States like Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois saw larger increases both in percentage and absolute numbers. In 2024, while homelessness increased nationally by over 18%, California limited its overall increase to just 3% - a lower rate than in 40 other states. California also achieved the nation's largest reduction in veteran homelessness and made meaningful progress in reducing youth homelessness.

And this year, many of California's communities are reporting reductions in homelessness - with a particularly notable reduction in unsheltered homelessness.