In a bid to address Californiaโs ongoing homelessness crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday pushed city officials to dismantle homeless encampments, which have proliferated under bridges, in parks, and along streets throughout the state. The governor shared a new plan outlining how cities and counties can comply with such a mandate and simultaneously announced over $3 billion in grants for facilities catering to those struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues.
The Democratic governor used this platform to strongly urge local governments to make use of state resources and policy modifications to mitigate the disquieting street conditions that have become synonymous with Californiaโs urban areas. At a news conference, he affirmed, โNo more excuses,โ emphasizing that it was time to reclaim the public spaces that have been overtaken by encampments.
Newsomโs focus on homelessness has been a key agenda since he assumed office in 2019. Historically a problem managed by local authorities, he has pressed the issue at the state level, emphasizing the need for exceptional measures to resolve what is a paramount public health and safety concern in California. It remains a significant challenge that could affect his political ambitions if he were to seek national office. His proposal positions him as potentially the first Democratic governor to introduce a statewide blueprint for the elimination of encampments.
The U.S. Supreme Courtโs recent ruling eased the path for officials to prevent homeless camping, a decision that, while hailed by many Democratic leaders, also faced backlash from advocates for the homeless. Newsomโs model regulation advises against โpersistent campingโ at single locations and encampments that block sidewalks. It also mandates that cities and counties provide notification and sincerely attempt to offer shelter before dismantling an encampment.
Several major Californian cities have already begun to address the issue of encampments. In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie has committed to clearing city sidewalks, while in San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan has proposed consequences for those who refuse shelter multiple times. Both cities, governed by Democratic authorities, have increased the availability of shelter beds. Meanwhile, Los Angelesโ Mayor Karen Bass has prioritized removing encampments; however, these temporary settlements of tents and improvised shelters continue to be a fixture across the city, which housed over 45,000 homeless individuals as estimated last year.
Nonetheless, some question the effectiveness of encampment bans. Jay Joshua, a resident at a small encampment in Los Angeles, considers such spaces to be a place where individuals can rebuild their lives. Critics contend that punitive measures can exacerbate the difficulty in securing stable housing and work, and argue that these efforts may divert attention from the need for funding in affordable housing and comprehensive schemas tackling homelessness.
Associations representing municipal and county interests in California argue that blaming them for the crisis is unfair, stressing that continuous funding is necessary to combat the cyclical nature of homelessness. Carolyn Coleman, CEO of the League of California Cities, underscored the need to focus on resolving the underlying causes of homelessness and noted that a majority of cities already have encampment policies.
Moreover, despite claims of thorough funding contributions by the state, the California State Association of Counties suggests that a considerable portion of financial resources reside with housing developers rather than directly addressing homelessness.
While Governor Newsomโs initiatives for increased housing construction and providing mental health treatment to homeless individuals are commended by housing and homeless advocates, the stateโs effectiveness in managing the crisis remains uncertain. Despite the allocation of $24 billion from 2018 to 2023 across multiple programs, a state audit revealed that California lacks crucial data to fully assess the impact and efficacy of these undertakings.