Lawsuit Says Fresno Ordinances Criminalize Homelessness, Violated Rights

Plaintiffs filed a class action complaint on Dec. 10 that alleges Fresno ordinances and enforcement practices effectively criminalize homelessness and deny due process and disability protections. The complaint names the City of Fresno and four police officers as defendants, and highlights two plaintiffs who the legal filing says qualify for statutory protections. Plaintiffs sought unspecified damages and planned to serve the city on Dec. 12, with both sides expected to appear in federal court in April.

The complaint argues that local enforcement relies on citations and arrests instead of offering services to people experiencing homelessness. Plaintiffs are represented by attorney Kevin Little, who said the lawsuit aims to create a legal model other cities can use. City Attorney Andrew Janz issued a statement defending Fresno ordinances as focused on individual behavior rather than on a person s housing status, and said the city is prepared to defend the laws in court.

The case arrives amid earlier legal challenges to Fresno s camping ordinance and ongoing local debates about how the city addresses unsheltered residents. If the court finds that municipal rules violate federal protections for due process or disability, Fresno could face court ordered changes to enforcement practices, potential damages, and pressure to expand alternatives to citations and arrests. For city governance, that outcome would carry implications for police training, municipal budgets, and the allocation of funds for outreach and housing services.

Residents and local institutions will watch the federal proceedings for how they reshape policy and accountability at the municipal level. The April court date creates a timeframe for city leaders, advocates, and voters to assess whether existing laws are achieving public safety goals while protecting constitutional and disability rights. The litigation also raises questions about long term strategies for homelessness response in Fresno, and whether elected officials will pursue legislative or budgetary changes in response to the court s decisions.