Porterville, CA - The Porterville City Council is responding to the recent closure of the Autumn Oaks residential care facility by sending a letter to the State, following the discovery of serious health and safety violations that placed residents at immediate risk.
Tulare County Environmental Health staff ordered the facility shut down after identifying unsanitary living conditions, rodent and insect infestations, and unsafe food storage practices. Due to the severity of the conditions, residents were required to relocate immediately to protect their health and safety.
The City of Porterville wishes to publicly commend Tulare County and its staff for their swift and decisive action. County personnel acted quickly to assess the situation, protect vulnerable residents, and coordinate emergency relocation efforts — all without direct assistance from the State agency responsible for licensing and oversight.
Following the closure, it was revealed that the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Community Care Licensing Division (CCL) had received 53 complaints over several years documenting similar concerns at Autumn Oaks. Despite the volume and seriousness of these complaints, no corrective enforcement action was taken by the State prior to the County’s intervention.
While the City is grateful for the professionalism and dedication shown by Tulare County, the circumstances have raised serious concerns about the adequacy of State oversight, enforcement, and communication with local jurisdictions when licensed facilities pose risks to public health and safety.
In response, the City of Porterville is requesting that the State formally examine the circumstances surrounding the Autumn Oaks facility, strengthen oversight and enforcement practices, and take steps to ensure similar failures do not occur again — in Porterville or elsewhere in California.
Given the impact on residents and the level of public concern, the Porterville City Council believes a formal response is necessary to advocate for accountability, transparency, and stronger protections for those who rely on licensed care facilities.
The City remains committed to protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all Porterville residents and will continue working with County and State partners to prevent future incidents.