A recent survey conducted by the city of Modesto in late September found that homelessness, public safety, and transportation are the most pressing concerns for local residents. Housing affordability and economic issues were also identified as significant priorities.
The survey interviewed 400 residents between September 30 and October 7. It explored not only which issues matter most to people but also how satisfied they are with the city’s handling of these matters. According to the findings, many residents feel dissatisfied with how important issues are being addressed, and there is disagreement about how Modesto should expand in the future.
When asked about trust in local government, nearly a third (31%) rated their trust as low, while 22.8% expressed high trust. Most respondents (59%) did not believe they received good value for their tax dollars. About half (50.5%) disagreed that the city responds well to resident priorities; 42% agreed.
Despite these concerns, a large majority—84%—described Modesto’s quality of life as either good or fair. The same percentage applied to whether people considered Modesto a good place to live. Around half (51%) reported satisfaction with city services overall.
Homelessness emerged as the top issue for residents. Data from annual counts showed little change in Stanislaus County’s homeless population over the past year: 2,052 individuals were counted in 2024 and 2,086 in 2025. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, this number has remained close to 2,000 each year, with most unhoused individuals located in Modesto.
After peaking at about 1,800 following the Great Recession and dipping mid-2010s, homelessness numbers have risen again since 2019. Officials noted that more people are now sheltered than unsheltered—a trend observed for three consecutive years.
However, funding challenges remain an obstacle for support services. In September, Stanislaus County gave six months’ notice to end its agreement with The Salvation Army to operate a low-barrier shelter on D Street in Modesto due to budget constraints; officials hope funding will last through June but its long-term future is uncertain.
On October 31st, Downtown Streets Teams ceased operations—including those in Modesto—after financial struggles forced closure despite positive feedback from advocates and clients alike. City officials responded by launching Hope Works on October 14th as a replacement program designed similarly but with some differences.
Concerns about public safety persist even as some crime rates decline. According to recent reports from the Modesto Police Department cited by CBS 13 Sacramento, nearly all crime categories have dropped compared to last year: aggravated assault fell by nearly fifteen percent; domestic violence remained steady; rape declined thirty-one percent; robbery dropped twenty-six percent; auto theft was down forty-five percent; commercial burglary fell thirty-six percent; residential burglary decreased twelve percent; vehicle larceny was down nine percent—and no murders were reported so far this year after seven homicides occurred last year. Police credited new technology and community engagement for these improvements.
Transportation infrastructure remains another major concern among residents: maintaining streets and traffic was rated important by seventy-seven percent but had just twenty-six-and-a-half percent satisfaction among those surveyed. Pavement quality (eighty-four point four percent), traffic control (sixty-nine percent), and sidewalk conditions (sixty-eight percent) were all seen as crucial yet had low satisfaction scores—nineteen percent or less each.
To address these problems, city leaders have increased investment in infrastructure projects recently approved by councilmembers totaling $13 million—including upgrades on Scenic Drive and Coffee Road—with expected completion dates set for December this year according to project updates provided online https://tinyurl.com/59urasmr . Some areas still require work due to ongoing construction or incomplete repairs such as potholes along key stretches of roadways.
Efforts continue toward making downtown more accessible via pedestrian-friendly improvements like those underway on Virginia Corridor Trail . Addressing sidewalk maintenance has proven complicated due to overlapping jurisdictional boundaries between city and county authorities—particularly around “islands” where responsibility shifts back-and-forth—but collaboration efforts such as October’s groundbreaking Parklawn Pedestrian Sidewalk Project aim at bringing south Modesto up-to-date ahead of potential annexation into city limits.
In summary, just over half of respondents expressed general satisfaction with municipal services offered by Modesto while remaining divided over specific priorities like housing costs or street maintenance.
