"I need help," one man told her as she offered him a hug. She gave him her cellphone number and email. She also offered a warning: He should be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The city was preparing to sweep the street encampment, and this time would be arresting people under a new ordinance that bans camping in public spaces.
"Our homelessness has gotten worse in Fresno. It's climbing every single day," Martinez said. "We're hurting, we're suffering, and we're losing all hope."
City officials, conversely, champion the camping ban, saying public spaces have been cleared of trash and more homeless people are being connected with treatment and shelter beds.
"For the past four years, we have been heavy on compassion and light on accountability," Dyer said. "We have to deal with them, and absent the ordinance, it would be challenging for us."
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