Table of Contents:
—1) The Story in a Nutshell
—2) Spencer Irwin
—3) The HOPE Program
——3.I) HOPE’s Inception
——3.II) HOPE’s Services
———3.II.A) A Streamlined, Life-Saving Process
———3.II.B) A Critical Safety Net That Could Have Saved Spencer
——3.III) Lack of Institutional Support for HOPE
———3.III.A) The Example
———3.III.B) Special Segue: Trustee Nasreen Johnson
——3.IV) Dismantling HOPE
——3.V) HOPE’s Timeline
——3.VI) HOPE Should Have Been Saved
———3.VI.A) Notice of Permanent HHIP Funds
———3.VI.B) The Basic Needs Funds
—4) Why?
—5) Would Spencer Be Alive?
——5.I) Unnecessary Stressors
——5.II) Shredded Safety Net
——5.III) An Avoidable Walk
—6) A Word for the Board
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This is a story of alleged willful negligence, retaliation, and a preventable tragedy. For four years, Ms. Natalie Chavez, the Faculty Coordinator of the Housing Opportunities Promote Education (HOPE) program at Fresno City College (FCC), a dedicated 17-year employee at the State Center Community College District (SCCCD or District), a tireless advocate, fought relentlessly to secure resources for unhoused students. She issued repeated warnings to the District, Trustee Nasreen Johnson, Chancellor Carole Goldsmith, President Robert Pimentel, Vice President of Student Services (VPSS) Lataria Hall, urging them to take action before lives were put at risk.
They ignored her.
HOPE, in a nutshell, was an academic support program that provided housing and support services to students experiencing homelessness so they could progress in their education. The HOPE program was a lifeline for unhoused students, providing both housing and critical support services to ensure their stability and academic success. HOPE saved lives—until FCC and District administrators chose to destroy it.
The District’s official explanation for terminating HOPE—a supposed lack of funding—does not hold up under scrutiny. The evidence suggests a far more sinister motive: a calculated effort to eliminate the program, driven by personal animosity against Ms. Chavez. The alleged result? A student is dead. After reviewing extensive documentation and speaking with many sources, we firmly believe that the dismantling of the HOPE program played a role in the tragic death of Spencer Irwin. We present the evidence and arguments, you decide.
Note: We have compiled extensive documentation for this story. While we cannot publish everything here, we provide enough information for you to file a California Public Records Act (CPRA) request to obtain records directly from the District.
1) The Story in a Nutshell
The elements of this story are as devastating as they are simple and undeniable: Ms. Chavez fought relentlessly for the HOPE program, exhausting every avenue—asking, pleading, begging for funds and support, while warning District administrators about the life-or-death consequences of inaction. Her warnings were ignored. Instead of action she was met with retaliation, instead of being heard she was silenced, and instead of support she was ultimately punished by being laid off for daring to advocate for vulnerable, unhoused students.
It’s not as though Ms. Chavez under-sold the risks. On April 24, 2024, Ms. Chavez put her concerns in writing, warning the District about her “fear” regarding the “human devastation” that an end to the HOPE program could cause. She also stated that students could “relapse without that desperately needed support and their safety could be in danger.” However, instead of support, Ms. Chavez received a layoff notice on June 25, 2024.
This pattern of silencing those who speak up has become a hallmark of Chancellor Goldsmith’s regime. But this time, the cost wasn’t just a career—it may have been a life. Had the HOPE program remained intact, we and many of those who are familiar with the story believe Spencer Irwin would still be alive today.
“I fear what is going to happen to over 60 students that are experiencing homelessness and have the highest acuity of substance use disorder, that receive services because of this vitally important grant. These students could relapse without that desperately needed support and their safety could be in danger.” – Ms. Natalie Chavez in a complaint filed with the District on April 24, 2024
2) Spencer Irwin
Spencer Irwin was more than a name on a roster—he was a son, a brother, a friend, and a young man with dreams. He was a student at FCC and one of the last recipients of services through the now-dismantled HOPE program, which provided him with housing and addiction recovery support.
On July 28, 2024, Spencer left his HOPE-provided apartment for the last time, beginning a 4.3-mile walk to a Verizon store on Shaw Avenue to get a new phone. He never made it. Four days later, on August 1, 2024, his unclothed body was discovered face down behind a building near Shaw and Blythe Avenue.
Spencer was described by those who knew him as kind, selfless, and deeply compassionate. He never met a stranger—he welcomed everyone. He often carried extra clothes to give to those in need, and he dreamed of becoming a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor to help others battling addiction, just as he was. Spencer struggled with alcohol—not out of weakness, but because he felt so deeply for others. It was this same depth of feeling that made him seek out HOPE, a program designed to provide stability for students like him.
Our sources indicate that after receiving an email from FCC announcing the end of HOPE, Spencer became extremely distraught at the prospect of losing his apartment and becoming unhoused again. His downward spiral was immediate—he had relapsed, stopped receiving counseling services at WestCare, and was left to navigate his crisis alone because the HOPE program was dismantled.
Spencer wasn’t just a statistic—not a name on a roster, a student ID number, an “Unduplicated Headcount,” or an FTES calculation for state reimbursement. He was a person—flesh and blood, full of hopes, dreams, and a future that was stolen from him. He had friends who adored him, family who loved him, and a community that cherished him. Yet, the evidence makes one thing painfully clear: to Chancellor Goldsmith and her cronies, students like Spencer are just numbers on a spreadsheet—data points to manipulate, not lives to protect. In contrast, Ms. Chavez saw them for who they were—real people in need of real support—and she fought relentlessly to ensure they got it. For that, she was punished. And for that neglect, we believe Spencer paid the ultimate price.
“Currently the pilot funding for the HOPE program is about to end on June 30, 2024. Over 100 students that are being housed by the HOPE program face homelessness, without vital rental assistance funding, even though Dr. Hall has millions of dollars unspent. The stress of knowing the human devastation of those students becoming homeless again is a stress that weighs heavy on me daily and continuously triggers my anxiety, however I have been intimidated to the point that I am fearful if I ask any questions about this unspent funding.” – Ms. Natalie Chavez in a complaint filed with the District on April 24, 2024
3) The HOPE Program
To fully grasp the significance of this tragedy, it is essential to understand the HOPE program at FCC—a program once hailed as “California’s most successful college student homeless support program.” [1] In just four years, HOPE housed over 350 students, providing them not just with shelter but with the stability needed to pursue their education.
3.I) HOPE’s Inception
The HOPE program was the brainchild of Ms. Chavez, its Faculty Coordinator at FCC who worked tirelessly to address student homelessness. In 2019, she identified two critical funding opportunities:
A $2 million five-year federal Grant to Benefit Homeless Individuals (GBHI) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
A $2.1 million three-year (which grew to a $3.73 million five-year grant) Homeless and Housing Insecurity Program (HHIP) pilot grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO).
Because only administrators could manage budgets and personnel within the SCCCD, Ms. Chavez sought assistance from Dr. Robert Pimentel, then Vice President of Educational Services & Institutional Effectiveness (VPESIE) at FCC, who later became the President of FCC, and is now the Chancellor at the West Hills Community College District. With his approval, Ms. Chavez successfully applied for the grants. In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic forced communities into lock down, FCC was awarded both grants, securing the initial total of $4.1 million to address student homelessness. However, almost immediately, then-President Goldsmith placed these grant awards under the Office of Student Equity & Success and moved Ms. Chavez out of Social Sciences. The Office of Student Equity & Success was managed by Dr. Ray Ramirez and ultimately under the control of then-VPESIE Pimentel.
This decision undermined HOPE’s ability to function effectively. The Office of Educational Services and Institutional Effectiveness had never existed at FCC before 2018. It housed the Office of Student Equity and Success and was completely understaffed, without sufficient organization or management, reportedly created by then-President Goldsmith to secure a Vice President position for Dr. Pimentel—one of the four members of so-called “West Hills Gang.” Despite these bureaucratic obstacles, Ms. Chavez pressed forward, ensuring that HOPE became a transformative force for unhoused students. But the administrative hostility toward her and her work would only grow deeper, setting the stage for the tragedy that followed.
3.II) HOPE’s Services
The HOPE program was more than just a housing initiative—it was a comprehensive support system designed to help unhoused students achieve long-term stability. Through strategic partnerships with the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC), RH Community Builders, WestCare, and Fresno EOC Emergency Shelter, HOPE provided students with:
Housing navigation to secure stable apartments;
Case management for intensive personalized support;
Employment assistance to help students achieve financial independence;
Mental health support to address trauma and stress; and
Substance abuse counseling to aid students struggling with addiction.
Fresno EOC’s housing navigation case managers worked closely with students to secure housing and help them to pay their rent, setting them on a path toward self-sufficiency. RH Community Builders provided on-site support, ensuring students had access to food, transportation, and mental health resources. Meanwhile, WestCare counselors specialized in addiction recovery, offered intensive individual and group counseling support to students battling substance abuse. Spencer benefited from these services and when the services stopped, Spencer died.
3.II.A) A Streamlined, Life-Saving Process
Unlike most bureaucratic programs, HOPE was designed to be accessible, flexible, and immediate—prioritizing students in crisis.
Students self-referred through Ms. Chavez.
Emergency shelter was available immediately for those without a place to stay.
Financial aid teams determined students’ unmet financial needs.
Fresno EOC case managers developed individualized housing plans.
Students signed agreements outlining their responsibilities, including participation in mental health or addiction counseling, when needed.
Move-in deposits and rental subsidies were processed directly through the FCC’s business office.
This streamlined approach ensured that students were not left to navigate their crises alone—HOPE provided direct financial assistance and ongoing case management to keep them housed and on track.
3.II.B) A Critical Safety Net That Could Have Saved Spencer
HOPE’s success was due in part to its proactive communication between service providers. The team met:
Every Monday with FCC Counselors, RH Community Builders, and Fresno EOC to discuss any emergencies, crisis, or urgent student needs; and
Every Thursday with FCC Counselors and WestCare to track students in addiction recovery, ensuring no one fell through the cracks.
Had HOPE still been in place, not only could Spencer’s downward spiral have been prevented (we will explore later), but also HOPE’s built-in safeguards could have detected Spencer’s distress and intervened. However, instead, the program was dismantled, and Spencer—like so many others—was left without the support that could have saved his life.
3.III) Lack of Institutional Support for HOPE
In some ways, it is remarkable that Spencer was the only student lost. From its inception, the HOPE program was deliberately starved of resources, staff, and space. On July 15, 2024, The Fresno Bee published a story citing Ms. Chavez:
“[t]here was no institutional investment, and the college leadership never spoke with the staff despite Chavez’s constant appeals for resources. Staff worked overtime to operate the program which didn’t even have an office on campus. It was the mismanagement and negligence of the leadership instead of the funding shortfall that killed the program.”
Sources familiar with HOPE confirmed Ms. Chavez’s statement. The purpose of federal and state grants is to jump-start critical programs and provide institutions with the ability and time to develop long-term, sustainable support. Sources told us that under Chancellor Goldsmith’s administration, grants are not supplemented with significant institutional resources. Instead of being used to build long-term, sustainable student support programs, they are treated as resume-padding tools—a way for Chancellor Goldsmith and her cronies to boast about “initiatives” while starving them of the resources needed to survive. HOPE, in particular, was doomed from the start. Not because of funding shortages or bureaucratic obstacles. But because Chancellor Goldsmith and VPSS Hall despised Ms. Chavez—not for incompetence, but for her unwavering advocacy for students and her refusal to stay silent. And in Chancellor Goldsmith’s world, speaking up is a punishable offense.
When FCC received the grants in 2020, Ms. Chavez’s workload exploded. Her faculty contract increased from 195 to 220 duty days—a significant workload expansion with no additional institutional support. She went from managing two grants totaling less than $200,000 to overseeing four grants totaling over $4.3 million. Ms. Chavez was forced to effectively (though not officially) supervise at least two adjunct counselors—a direct violation of faculty roles, as faculty are not allowed to be placed in supervisory positions over other faculty. However, Ms. Chavez was told by the administration that this was all the help she would get for the HOPE program. After the one and only meeting with then-President Goldsmith during the President’s Cabinet meeting on July 21, 2020, it became painfully clear to her and others in the room that the administration had no intention of providing any meaningful support. To exacerbate the problem, due to the chaos created by Chancellor Goldsmith, Ms. Chavez had a total of 15 different immediate and secondary supervisors in four years.
The biggest barrier to the program was that no real estate developer was willing to provide housing to HOPE students because of their lack of income, challenging credit history, or involvement with the criminal justice system. Ms. Chavez set out to solve this issue by seeking partners who would house students despite their history. She found RH Community Builders. She had to do everything for HOPE through partnerships because of the lack of support by FCC and the SCCCD.
Despite the administration's neglect, Ms. Chavez refused to let HOPE fail. Through strategic partnerships and relentless advocacy, she expanded the program’s reach and secured critical housing for students. In January 2021, new funding from the County of Fresno allowed HOPE to house students in 10 units at Crossroads, a site built through California’s Homekey (Round 1) grant program. That successful partnership laid the groundwork for an even larger initiative—a $16,717,077 HOPE partnership with the City of Fresno through Homekey (Round 2). This funding converted the San Joaquin Hotel (now Park 1309) into 69 affordable apartments exclusively for students. While FCC and the SCCCD provided no real support, Ms. Chavez built “California’s most successful college student homeless support program.” [2]
Ms. Chavez continued securing millions in funding and building high-profile partnerships—yet FCC and the SCCCD refused to invest in HOPE. One glaring example? The District’s refusal to allocate Basic Needs funds to HOPE, despite having the available money since November 2021. We will explore this shocking misallocation of resources later in this article. But make no mistake: HOPE didn’t collapse. It was dismantled.
HOPE grew at a lightning pace in four years because the intense needs of students were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. HOPE consistently had at least 500 new student referrals in the first week of every semester and a never-ending waitlist. At its peak in 2023, HOPE had 157 units fully occupied. HOPE housed and provided services to a total of 350 unhoused students between 2020 and 2024.
In December of 2021, a HOPE student, Magdalena Livingston, died from a drug overdose in her apartment. Ms. Chavez alerted FCC administrators about the tragedy—she received no support. On the same day, Chancellor Goldsmith was reportedly celebrating her promotion to Chancellor. Instead of responding to a student’s death, the administration continued to ignore Ms. Chavez’s pleas for resources.
As demand for the program began to snowball, Ms. Chavez believed that if she raised more money (she raised a total of $57,264,100) and secured the right partnerships, the District would finally give HOPE the institutional support it desperately needed. She was wrong. The more she advocated for students, the more the administration stonewalled her. The more questions she asked, the more retaliation she faced. Instead of providing resources, the District sought to eliminate her.
Multiple sources confirmed that Chancellor Goldsmith and VPSS Hall “hated” Ms. Chavez. VPSS Hall actively tried to get Ms. Chavez transferred under her control so she could fire her sooner. President Pimentel refused to fire her outright, but he did nothing to protect her. One source confirmed:
“Hall wanted her fired and asked Pimentel to fire her, but he refused… I know all three of them [Goldsmith, Pimentel, and Hall] didn’t like her, but Hall and Goldsmith really hated her. Pimentel didn’t want to fire her, but Hall was the main culprit behind it.”
Another source corroborated:
“They disliked her intensely. Particularly Hall, but the other two frequently whispered ill of her.”
Every source we spoke to confirmed the same truth— Ms. Chavez’s advocacy for students made her a target under the toxic culture of intimidation, retaliation, and retribution perpetuated by Chancellor Goldsmith.
3.III.A) The Example
Instead of support, Ms. Chavez faced obstruction. One poignant example is when she developed a $600,000 critical partnership with the City of Fresno to serve HOPE students. Chancellor Goldsmith asked the City of Fresno, not Ms. Chavez, to pause the program until Ms. Chavez had met with her supervisor. Chancellor Goldsmith refused to speak to Ms.Chavez after she had stopped this vital $600,000 investment from the City of Fresno. We are baffled by the logic in this.
Once Ms. Chavez learned about this, she emailed Chancellor Goldsmith on March 21, 2022, to discuss the matter:
Ms. Chavez also contacted Trustee Nasreen Johnson, then-President of the Board of Trustees on the same day, to help move the funding forward:
Trustee Johnson responded to Ms. Chavez on the same day, March 21, 2022:
The only response Ms. Chavez ever received from Chancellor Goldsmith was in the form of the following email on March 22, 2022:
In response to the non-answer and demeaning response she received from Chancellor Goldsmith, Ms. Chavez wrote a letter to her which was attached to the email below sent on March 23, 2022:
This letter attached to the email above was this:
In the letter to Chancellor Goldsmith, Ms. Chavez stated:
“Critical emergency housing has been jeopardized for not only the 60 new foster and homeless students who plan to start school this summer, but also for an estimated 100 students that could be supported in a new emergency homeless shelter throughout the next academic year. Our homeless students do not have the luxury of pressing ‘pause’ as they languish in the streets/homeless shelters, desperately seeking to improve their lives through the education and housing support they could receive through the HOPE program and Fresno City College.”
Chancellor Goldsmith never responded to the email and letter above. Therefore, Ms. Chavez contacted Trustee Johnson again on March 25, 2022:
Trustee Johnson responded on the same day with the following tone-deaf email:
Ms. Chavez responded to Trustee Johnson, explaining that her dilemma:
Trustee Johnson never responded to Ms. Chavez. With no place to go, she prepared and read the following statement at the Board of Trustees’ meeting on May 10, 2022.
In her statement to the Board of Trustees on May 10, 2022, Ms. Chavez stated:
“Currently I am being asked to “pause” my collaboration with the City of Fresno until I speak to my leadership. Our homeless students are desperately seeking to improve their lives through their education at Fresno City College and they do not have the luxury of pressing “pause” as we move into the scorching summer months, and they languish in the streets and shelters. To date, I have received no response to my multiple attempts to understand what information is needed from me to move this work with the City of Fresno forward. Why am I being asked to pause my work advocating for funding support for our homeless students?”
After Ms. Chavez spoke at the Board, the collaboration was “unpaused.” FCC did move forward with that partnership and become the first college in California and possibly the United States to have a partnership with a 24-hour, year-round emergency shelter/staff. It is critical to note, that all of this exchange was occurring when VPESIE Pimentel was in the process of being selected as the new President of FCC, which officially occurred on July 1, 2022.
You might be put off by the tone of Ms. Chavez’s emails as we were initially, but we then considered the weight of the responsibility she carried. She wasn’t advocating for numbers on a spreadsheet—she was fighting for some of the most vulnerable students in the District: unhoused students, many struggling with substance abuse, trauma, and instability.
Chancellor Goldsmith and her administration had the luxury of ignoring this crisis—but Ms. Chavez and her students did not. After repeatedly reaching out for help and being met with silence, indifference, and obstruction, is it any surprise that her frustration grew? Frankly, given the stakes and the sheer neglect she was up against, we find the tone of her emails to be remarkably restrained.
3.III.B) Special Segue: Trustee Nasreen Johnson
Trustee Nasreen Johnson’s email to Ms. Chavez on March 25, 2022 (see above) demands your special attention.
Trustee Johnson, your response to Ms. Chavez speaks volumes. It wasn’t just tone-deaf—it was a disgrace. When Ms. Chavez fought to keep students like Spencer housed, you responded with:
“I appreciate your passion for our students, particularly those who are unsheltered, but I encourage you to pursue this project with guidance from your superiors and with grace for everyone involved. I trust that the Chancellor is looking at the big picture in regards to the District's relationships with partners and all of our many projects.”
Let’s be clear about what this statement means. You reduced a life-or-death issue to nothing more than a bureaucratic project. You prioritized “the District's relationships with partners” over the unhoused students who needed the services. You hid behind hollow rhetoric while ignoring the real-world consequences of your inaction.
This is why people despise politicians like you. Because your public rhetoric does not match your private actions. On LGBTQFresno, when asked about your plans to address homelessness, you stated:
“I support affordable housing and student housing.”
In an article in FresnoLand, you were quoted saying:
“’Youth have been – rightfully so – not showing up at those places because it’s not safe,’ Johnson said. She added that young people, especially those who get mistreated by their families after they come out as LGBTQ+, would have nowhere to go when they are ‘having arguments with their family members.’”
You have spoken about the importance of housing for at-risk youth. Yet when it came to the unhoused students in your own district, you protected the administration instead. It is clear that you prioritize “the District’s relationships with [external] partners” over the immediate, life-saving needs of our most vulnerable students. This statement makes it painfully clear that, in your view, Spencer and the other vulnerable students are merely pawns in a broader political game—a mere element of “the big picture” of partnerships and projects.
What do you have to say to Spencer’s parents? Would you repeat this same empty statement to them?
We wonder, if these students had been part of the LGBTQ+ community, would your response have been the same? We doubt it.
We wonder, if it were you or someone you loved on the brink of homelessness, would you trust the Chancellor to handle the “big picture” while they lost their housing and support system overnight? We doubt it.
We wonder, if it were someone close to you in danger, would you have still chosen “grace for everyone involved” over their safety? We doubt it.
Look at Spencer—and think about your words. Take a good look at the face of the student you failed. Then tell us again about your “big picture.” We’re waiting and watching.
3.IV) Dismantling HOPE
On June 26, 2024, the FCC administration sent an email to all the students receiving services through the HOPE program notifying them of the termination of the program with the following:
Dear HOPE Student,
We write to you today with a pressing update regarding the HOPE Program at Fresno City College. Despite our dedicated efforts over the past several months to address a shortfall in funding resources, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to ensure housing assistance starting on September 1, 2024.
Consequently, it is imperative that you begin exploring alternate housing options, initiate the move-out process from your current location, and make arrangements to vacate your current housing by August 31, 2024.
We understand the challenges posed by this sudden change, and we encourage you to reach out directly to various Fresno-based organizations that specialize in housing support and placements:
Fresno Housing Authority (FHA)
Phone: (559) 443-8400
Website: fresnohousing.orgFresno Rescue Mission
Phone: (559) 268-0839
Website: fresnomission.orgEvangel Home
Phone: (559) 264-4714
Website: evangelhome.orgFresno EOC Sanctuary
Phone: (559) 498-8543
Website: fresnoeoc.orgPoverello House
Phone: (559) 498-6988
Website: poverellohouse.orgWhile we regret our inability to offer further assistance at this time, we strongly encourage you to utilize the resources provided above to seek the necessary support and guidance.
Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.
This email was sent to students while there was $620,976 of new HHIP funding from the CCCCO received for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Even more disturbing is the fact that there was also over $2.5 million in Basic Needs funds—specifically designated for housing and essential student support— sitting there unspent by FCC and VPSS Hall.
So, there was money available, but no HOPE.
3.V) HOPE’s Timeline
The timeline of the events during the months and days leading to Spencer's death are an important aspect of this story. We have constructed the most accurate timeline according to our sources and evidence:
April 24, 2024: Ms. Chavez filed multiple complaints against President Pimentel and VPSS Hall warning the District about devastating consequences of eliminating the HOPE program.
June 25, 2024: Ms. Chavez received her layoff notice effective June 30, 2024.
June 26, 2024:
The California Community College Chancellor’s office notified FCC and the District that HHIP funding of $620,976 will be available for the HOPE program.
HOPE students received an email from FCC that they need to vacate from the apartments by August 31 due to the program’s funding shortfall.
Spencer received the email and was distraught about the prospect of becoming unhoused.
June 27, 2024: Spencer sent a text message to a loved one saying, “the Hope program is ending😢.”
June 30, 2024:
Ms. Chavez was officially laid off.
The contracts for all of HOPE’s contracted services with WestCare, RH Community Builders, and Fresno EOC ended.
July 8, 2024: External investigation of Ms. Chavez’s complaints against administrators were set to begin (after Ms. Chavez was laid off) with an attorney from the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo regarding her allegations of violations of the District’s Code of Ethics and Fiscal Management policies by President Pimenel and VPSS Hall.
July 15, 2024: The Fresno Bee published a story about HOPE by Ms. Leqi Zhong, entitled: Students face eviction at Fresno City College after housing plan cut, despite new money.
July 16, 2024: President Pimentel responded in an on-air interview with Youcentralvalley.com.
July 17, 2024: The Fresno Bee published an opinion piece about HOPE by Mr. Marek Warszawski, entitled: As Fresno college president gets promotion, vulnerable students get the shaft.
July 26, 2024: The Fresno Bee published a follow up story about HOPE by Ms. Leqi Zhong, entitled: Are Fresno City College students being evicted? Officials say no, but offer no details.
July 28, 2024: Spencer left his apartment to walk 4.3 miles to the Verizon store to get a new phone.
July 29, 2024: Spencer was missing!
July 30, 2024: Spencer was missing!
July 31, 2024: Spencer was missing!
August 1, 2024: Spencer’s body was discovered face down and fully unclothed behind a building near Shaw and Blythe Ave.
During the last days of Spencer’s life, instead of attempting to serve the most vulnerable students, the District was managing their image in the Media.
3.VI) HOPE Should Have Been Saved
Could the HOPE program have been saved? The evidence is clear: Yes.
Our investigation uncovered two undeniable facts that contradict the District's claim that the program was cut due to a “lack of funds”:
On July 26, 2024—four days before Ms. Chavez’s layoff—FCC was officially notified that it had been awarded permanent HHIP funds totaling $620,976.
At the time of Ms. Chavez’s termination, FCC still had $2.5 million sitting untouched in Basic Needs funds—money explicitly intended to support students’ essential needs, including housing.
The funding was there. The resources existed. HOPE should have continued. Instead, Chancellor Goldsmith, President Pimentel, and VPSS Hall chose inaction. They ignored funding opportunities, withheld money, and sabotaged the program—all while falsely claiming their hands were tied. This was not a funding issue. It was a choice, an insidious and deliberate choice.
3.VI.A) Notice of Permanent HHIP Funds
After The Fresno Bee began investigating the abrupt termination of the HOPE program, FCC flatly denied that additional funding was available.
This was a blatant lie.
According to Ms. Leqi Zhong’s July 15, 2024, article, The Fresno Bee uncovered that $620,976 in an additional round of state HHIP grant had been allocated to FCC. When pressed about it, FCC officials denied the existence of the award—twice—even after being given the exact amount. In email exchanges, FCC claimed their staff had verified with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) that no additional funds were available.
This was false.
Not only had the funds been awarded to FCC, but half of the money had already been distributed to the District. In a follow-up article on July 26, 2024, The Fresno Bee confirmed that state officials had already sent FCC a portion of the grant—directly contradicting FCC’s repeated denials.
Our own investigation found that the CCCCO officially notified the SCCCD of the available HHIP funding on July 26, 2024—the very same day that FCC informed students that HOPE was being shut down.
This was not a case of miscommunication or bureaucratic oversight. It was a deliberate deception. The funding was there, and the HOPE program could have continued. But FCC and the SCCCD chose to bury the truth—and students paid the price.
3.VI.B) The Basic Needs Funds
Our review of FCC’s Basic Needs budget—a fund explicitly designated for student necessities, including housing—reveals a staggering $2.5 million remained unspent when the HOPE program was dismantled. This fund was and is controlled by VPSS Lataria Hall—another member of the “West Hills Gang.” Yet, despite having the authority—and the funding—VPSS Hall refused to allocate resources to save the HOPE program.
According to The Fresno Bee’s article on July 26, 2024, “The college’s HOPE program used to be listed among these [Basic Needs] resources, until the college took down the website on July 9, the same day The Bee interviewed Pimentel about the program cut.”
However, internal emails show VPSS Hall herself acknowledged HOPE as a Basic Needs program. In an email dated July 11, 2022, VPSS Hall asked, “I am reviewing the webpage that was designed for our Basic Needs & Mental Health. Is there any reason we did not list our HOPE program as a resource on this webpage?”
Despite recognizing HOPE’s importance, VPSS Hall refused to release funds to sustain it. The evidence we reviewed indicates that VPSS Hall was so protective of the Basic Needs funds that she outright refused to allocate any of it to the HOPE program. After persistent pressure and repeated requests, she reluctantly approved a one-time allocation of just $100,000, despite having over $2.5 million available. When Ms. Chavez requested $200,000 instead—less than 10% of the available funds—VPSS Hall flatly rejected it. In an email dated January 26, 2023, Hall dismissively responded: “I understand you are trying to grow your program but this request is double the amount you asked for yesterday. I am prepared to support the HOPE program but not with 200k. I strongly recommend that you build out a program that supports the capacity of your funding and work within it.”
Translation: We will watch you do the work, take the credit, and starve you of resources until you fail.
VPSS Hall was more than willing to claim the prestige of “California’s most successful college student homeless support program,” but when it came to actually funding it, she chose to let it die. This isn’t just gross negligence—it’s an egregious mismanagement of public funds.
4) Why?
In a scathing opinion piece published by The Fresno Bee on July 17, 2024, Mr. Marek Warszawski posed a critical question: “why FCC administrators, people who are supposed to be looking out for students instead of furthering their own careers, opted to disband a landmark program even though funding was readily available to keep it going[?]”
The answer to his question is brutally simple: Chancellor Goldsmith’s defining leadership trait is silencing anyone who dares to advocate for students and faculty by retaliating against them. Ms. Chavez was “hated” by Chancellor Goldsmith and VPSS Hall because of her outspoken advocacy for students. Ms. Chavez wasn’t just an outspoken faculty member—she was a force for change. And for that, she had to be eliminated.
For example, one source informed us that VPSS Hall wanted Ms. Chavez moved under her supervision so she could fire her sooner. While President Pimentel did not personally harbor animosity toward Ms. Chavez, he wasn’t “the one running FCC. He's a puppet for the Chancellor.” [3] Furthermore, President Pimentel heavily relied on, or obeyed, VPSS Hall’s advice and opinion to run the college—at least for the portions of FCC that Chancellor Goldsmith allowed him to run. The reality is clear, Chancellor Goldsmith and her cronies use alleged unethical, illegal, and oppressive means to silence faculty who speak up. They count on faculty and staff being too fearful to push back—but even in the most repressive systems, people rise up when tyranny crosses a certain threshold. Through our reporting, faculty, classified profassional, and even administrators have come to understand the depth of damage Goldsmith’s regime has inflicted on the SCCCD.
Mr. Warszawski further points out that “the explanation Pimentel and his communications staff gave for the abrupt end of the Housing Opportunities Promote Education program doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Their paranoid responses and non-answers only raise more questions.” However, in a district where advocacy is punished and blind loyalty to the “Queen” is rewarded, “paranoid responses and non-answers” are all administrators can offer.
Mr. Warszawski went on to say, “[f]rom the outside, the situation defies logic. Why wouldn’t FCC turn over every available rock to continue housing assistance for students such as Jalyssa Jenkins-McGill, a 36-year-old mother of two? But to those who’ve seen and experienced the inner workings, this is simply a public peek into how things operate.” But this situation only defies logic if you assume student welfare is Chancellor Goldsmith’s priority. It allegedly is not. According to our sources and based on our previous articles, for Chancellor Goldsmith, nothing is more important than settling a vendetta—especially against employees who expose wrongdoing, for example, Ms. Chavez. She worked at the SCCCD from 2007 until June 30, 2024. In 17 years of service, she never received a single negative employee evaluation or formal disciplinary action. Yet, on June 25, 2024—just two months after filing formal complaints against President Pimentel and VPSS Hall, and after explicitly warning the District of the life-threatening consequences of eliminating the HOPE program—she received her layoff notice. Why? Because she spoke up against the wrongdoing and mismanagement led by Chancellor Goldsmith and perpetuated by her cronies.
The HOPE program had to be dismantled so Chancellor Goldsmith and VPSS Hall could eliminate Chavez—even if it meant throwing vulnerable students into homelessness, into relapse, and into despair. Even if it meant Spencer Irwin would pay the ultimate price.
What truly defies logic is not just the cruelty of Chancellor Goldsmith—but how someone so ruthless was allowed to rise so high in the first place. What defies logic is a Board of Trustees that sees the destruction, the retaliation, the suffering—and still refuses to act.
5) Would Spencer Be Alive?
Spencer Irwin, like many other students in the HOPE program, was devastated when he learned that his housing and support services were being taken away.
5.I) Unnecessary Stressors
Desiree Martinez, executive director of We Are NOT Invisible, a non-profit advocating for people experiencing homelessness, did not mince words when describing FCC and the District’s decision to abruptly terminate HOPE. In the Fresno Bee article published on July 26, 2024, she called it “mental abuse” and asked: “[d]o you know how many people in this program are having mental health issues? We have people with children! Do you know how much anxiety and panic disorder you caused in women, men and children?”
But perhaps the most damning statement came when she explained why this decision was so inhumane: “You never send an email to students after you picked them up off the street, you took them out of the rehabs, you took them from jail, you took them from the shelters, and you said ‘we got a great program for you from homelessness to housing’, and you’re going to make them homeless again.” For someone in addiction recovery, even minor stressors can trigger a relapse. Losing stable housing is a life-altering crisis. After receiving the email announcing HOPE’s termination, Spencer sent a heartbreaking message to a loved one: “the Hope program is ending😢.” Soon after, he began drinking again.
We have also been informed that he stopped receiving counseling services from WestCare, but the exact timeline remains unclear.
5.II) Shredded Safety Net
The HOPE program staff met regularly with partners—including WestCare counselors—to discuss students in crisis. When Spencer had begun missing sessions or showing signs of relapse, HOPE staff would have been notified and could have intervened. But the HOPE program had already been dismantled.
The District’s contract with WestCare for HOPE services expired on June 30, 2024. A new contract was not signed until September 23, 2024—almost three months later. However, the District backdated the contract to July 1, 2024. Why would the District backdate a contract nearly three months after it expired? This is yet another unanswered question in a story filled with deception, cover-ups, and negligence.
5.III) An Avoidable Walk
Our sources confirmed that Spencer needed a ride to the Verizon store on July 28, 2024. If the HOPE program had still been in place, he could have received transportation assistance from an RH Community Builders case manager or his EOC housing case manager. Instead, he was forced to walk 4.3 miles alone—a walk he never came back from.
We believe Spencer’s death was not inevitable. It was preventable. But instead of supporting the most vulnerable students on campus, District and FCC administrators were too busy trying to control the media narrative surrounding HOPE’s closure.
We remind you once more of Ms. Chavez’s explicit warnings to the District about the catastrophic consequences of canceling the HOPE program. These statements are undeniable proof that FCC and SCCCD administrators knew exactly what would happen—and chose to ignore it. The consequences weren’t hypothetical. They became reality. A life was lost. Spencer’s life.
“The stress of knowing the human devastation of those students becoming homeless again is a stress that weighs heavy on me daily and continuously triggers my anxiety.”— Ms. Natalie Chavez in a complaint filed with the District on April 24, 2024
“I fear what is going to happen to over 60 students that are experiencing homelessness and have the highest acuity of substance use disorder, that receive services because of this vitally important grant. These students could relapse without that desperately needed support and their safety could be in danger.”— Ms. Natalie Chavez in a complaint filed with the District on April 24, 2024
This wasn’t a mistake. It was a choice. And Spencer Irwin paid the price.
At the January 14, 2025, Board of Trustees meeting, Ms. Chavez addressed the elephant in the room:
“the question that haunts me is, could his death have been prevented if the HOPE program pilot was not ended by FCC administrators?”
That is the question that should haunt the Board of Trustees, their army of attorneys, and their insurance providers. We already know the answer.
Spencer, we never had the privilege of knowing you, but we wish we had. You were, and are, loved deeply—not just for who you were, but for the kindness and light you brought into the world. Your memory will not fade—we won’t allow it. Your story matters, and we will make sure it is heard. Rest in peace, Spencer !You are not forgotten!
6) A Word for the Board
We warned you. For the past five months, we have repeatedly urged you to act—to address the rampant mismanagement, retaliation, and abuse under Chancellor Goldsmith’s administration. You have ignored us. We warned you over and over that our stories are going to get more revealing and you ignored us. This is our most revealing story so far but don’t think for a second that there is no place to go from here. Understand that we are not done. We are relentless in our pursuit of truth, and we will not stop until you do your job. If you do not have the stomach for this work, step down. We always have the stomach for it because we fight for students. Think long and hard about where you want to go from here. The ball remains in your court, and your inaction just keeps adding players to ours. Our tentacles have infiltrated the District office, Chancellor Goldsmith’s circle, and even the Board. Our sources and ability to learn and coraborate information have increased exponentially.
While mismanagement, chaos, and disorder have long marred Chancellor Goldsmith’s administration, we never imagined something this heartless. This is something else entirely. This is cruel. Like mold that rots from the inside out, the SCCCD’s systemic decay has gone unchecked for too long. The corruption isn’t just Chancellor Goldsmith—it extends to those who enable her. Addressing this crisis requires a full-scale leadership overhaul—starting with her and including certain board members, such as Trustee Nasreen Johnson who believes “the big picture in regards to the District's relationships with partners and all of our many projects” is more important that the health and well-being of our most vulnerable students at the SCCCD.
Two stories have profoundly affected us and strenghtened our resolve. The first was Dean Cyndie Luna and the Communication Department’s insidious textbook mandate—a scandal that forced students to line her pockets and the department coffers under the guise of “education.” The second is this! Because we are all parents and there is no greater nightmare we can imagine than receiving a phone call that our child is dead. This story caused us to shudder at the thought of trusting decisions regarding students’ health and well-being to the likes of Chancellor Goldsmith and her cronies. Nothing makes the gut-wrenching failure of leadership clearer than the loss of a student whose death might have been prevented. Your inaction, your negligence, and your lack of oversight led to this tragedy. We think you have blood on your hands.
State Center Community College District (SCCCD) - Fresno City College (FCC) - Madera Community College (MCC)- Clovis Community College (CCC) - Reedley College (RC) - Dr. Carole Goldsmith - Chancellor Goldsmith - Magdalena Gomez - Danielle Parra - Robert A. Fuentes - Austin Ewell - Deborah J. Ikeda - Nasreen Johnson - Destiny Rodriguez - Haiden del Fierro