911 Emergency Calls in Manteca have increased 23.5 percent; mostly due to the growing challenges and issues involving the unhoused (homeless)

MANTECA, CALIF — The volume of 911 emergency calls involving the unhoused (homeless) in Manteca has increased 23.5 percent over the past two years, as the homeless population in Manteca has decreased by 89 people. The number of unhoused individuals in Manteca in January 2022 was 129; the number of unhoused individuals in Manteca in January 2020 was 218.

According to Stephen Schluer Manteca’s Chief of Police, from January 1, 2022, to July 15, 2023, the City had 2,177 transient-related calls for service; up from 1,143 during a 12-month period in 2021. This includes 911 calls and non-emergency calls that mention homeless or transient. The main reason for these calls has to do with the need for medical aid, fires, and assaults.

Emergency calls linked to fire, however, have gone down in recent years. David Marques, Manteca’s Fire Chief, said, “Three years ago, we averaged about 10 percent of our calls being directly related to a homeless person; in 2023, to date, we are averaging 3-5 percent.

One reason for this decrease in calls to the Fire Department involving the unhoused is that calls involving warming fires used to go to the Fire Department; today, these calls go to the Police Department.

For more information regarding this topic, call (209) 456-8556, or email homelessdivision@manteca.gov.  Additional information is available on the Manteca City website: at https://www.manteca.gov/departments/office-of-the-city-manager/the unhoused -housing.

About the City of Manteca

Manteca is a full-service City with police, fire, public works, water, trash and sewer services. For more information, call the City Manager’s office at (209) 456-8000, email: Feedback@manteca.gov, or go online to https://www.manteca.gov.

Incorporated in 1918, Manteca has a diverse population of 88,772. Manteca grew at 24.4 percent from 2010-2020 and continues to grow at an accelerated pace. The City has 28,454 households with a median home price of $500,017. The median annual household income is $90,640.