DATE: May 12, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Sanja Bugay, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Marjaree Mason Center Annual Report for Domestic Violence Fund
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Accept the Marjaree Mason Center Annual Report for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow Marjaree Mason Center, Inc. (MMC) to submit the annual report to your Board in accordance with Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) §18300. This provision requires an annual report be submitted by the domestic violence shelter-based program receiving funding from the Domestic Violence Fund (DVF) to the County Board of Supervisors. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. Not approving the recommended action will result in non-compliance of WIC §18300.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
The Domestic Violence Fund (DVF) for Fresno County was established in accordance with WIC §18305 for domestic violence shelter-based programs, using income from marriage license fees, court ordered debt revenue, and fines and fees imposed by the courts for domestic violence cases. The WIC §18300 stipulates that any agency receiving DVF funding prepares an annual report that details the total number of persons requesting services, the number of persons served based on the service they were provided, and a description of the social and economic characteristics of persons receiving services. The current report covers the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
On August 5, 2025, the Department of Social Services (DSS) through County Purchasing published a Request For Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) 26-005 in search of other potential agencies that provide Domestic Violence Shelter-based Programs (DVSP) that meet the requirements of the WIC §18293 and 18294. The only response received was from MMC, who is already receiving funding from the DVF based on an agreement (A-24-108) that the Board approved on March 5, 2024. Since there were no other agencies that responded to the RFSQ, the General Services Department - Purchasing cancelled the RFSQ. MMC is still the only agency in the County of Fresno that has demonstrated the ability to meet all requirements under WIC §18294 to receive funding from the DVF.
WIC §18294 requires the following basic services that must be provided to victims and their children:
(a) Shelter on a 24-hours a day, seven days a week basis.
(b) A 24-hours a day, seven days a week telephone hotline for crisis calls.
(c) Temporary housing and food facilities.
(d) Psychological support and peer counseling provided in accordance with Section 1037.1 of the California Evidence Code.
(e) Referrals to existing services in the community.
(f) A drop-in center that operates during normal business hours to assist victims of domestic violence who have a need for support services.
(g) Arrangements for school age children to continue their education during their stay at the domestic violence shelter-based program.
(h) Emergency transportation, as feasible.
DSS confirmed that MMC is following all provisions stipulated in WIC §18294 through a formal site visit on September 26, 2025.
As reflected in the attached FY 2024-25 report, MMC provided a range of services and supportive activities to survivors of abuse and their children. During the reporting period, a total of 7,918 individuals received services. Of those served, 6,536 were adults, 1,120 were children between the ages of 0 and 17, and 262 individuals did not report their age.
In addition, MMC provided 40,085 nights of Emergency Shelter, serving 226 single-person households and 243 families throughout the fiscal year in the County of Fresno. These services provided critical safety and support to individuals and families experiencing abuse.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #48, March 5, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - MMC Annual Report
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander