Context:

Governor Gavin Newsom has called upon California's local governments to dismantle homeless encampments, as part of a broader strategy to address the state's visible homelessness crisis. The initiative includes a model ordinance for municipalities, supported by $3.3 billion in funds to enhance housing and treatment services for homeless individuals. Key ordinance provisions prohibit prolonged camping in one location, block encampments from obstructing sidewalks, and mandate efforts to provide shelter before clearing sites. Despite significant financial investment over recent years, a 2024 state audit revealed inconsistent tracking of outcomes and a lack of reliable data on the efficacy of these expenditures. As California hosts nearly a third of the nation's homeless population, Newsom's approach also involves laws to facilitate compulsory treatment for those with behavioral health issues, a critical aspect of his policy agenda that may influence his potential national political ambitions.

Dive Deeper:

• Governor Gavin Newsom has urged local governments across California to clear homeless encampments, introducing a model ordinance to regulate and enforce rules around these makeshift communities. The ordinance is designed to address the growing visibility of homelessness in public spaces such as sidewalks and parks.

• The state is releasing $3.3 billion in voter-approved funds to assist municipalities in expanding housing and treatment options for the homeless. This funding aims to support the establishment of shelter and services, crucial to the ordinance's enforcement.

• Key measures in the ordinance include prohibitions on persistent camping in one location, bans on encampments blocking sidewalks, and requirements for officials to notify and offer alternative shelter solutions before dismantling encampments.

• In 2024, a state audit highlighted that California had spent $24 billion over the past five years on homelessness without consistently tracking the effectiveness of these expenditures. This lack of reliable data poses challenges to understanding and improving the situation.

• California holds nearly a third of the U.S. homeless population, with over 187,000 residents needing housing. The state's ongoing struggle with homelessness is a significant issue, particularly as Governor Newsom considers a potential run for national office.

• The governor has advocated for legislation to make it easier to mandate treatment for individuals with behavioral health issues, reflecting a commitment to integrating mental health services into the broader strategy for addressing homelessness.

• The proposal requiring counties to allocate two-thirds of mental health service funds from a 2004 millionaire tax to housing and programs for homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses or substance abuse issues was a pivotal part of Newsom's legislative agenda.