Gov. Gavin Newsom urges California cities and counties to ban homeless encampments

The authorities accounts for astir a 3rd of the stateless colonisation successful the US. More than 187,000 Californians are successful request of housing.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Gavin Newsom connected Monday urged California's section governments to wide stateless encampments, escalating the state's efforts to prohibition the increasing fig of makeshift camps connected sidewalks and successful parks that are the astir disposable signs of the situation of radical surviving connected the streets.

The announcement of a caller exemplary ordinance for counties, cities and towns is coupled with the merchandise of $3.3 cardinal successful voter-approved funds the authorities volition marque disposable to communities to grow lodging and attraction options for stateless residents, the governor's bureau said successful a quality release.

The extremity is is to assistance municipalities acceptable "rules astir encampments and found effectual enforcement procedures" that prioritize structure and services.

"Encampments airs a superior nationalist information risk, and exposure the radical successful encampments to accrued hazard of intersexual violence, transgression activity, spot harm and break-ins, and unsanitary conditions," the quality merchandise said.

In 2024, voters approved a measurement that imposes strict requirements connected counties to walk connected lodging and cause attraction programs to tackle the homelessness crisis. It was a signature connection for Newsom, who campaigned for the measure's passage.

Under the measure, counties are required to walk astir two-thirds of the wealth from a voter-approved taxation enacted successful 2004 connected millionaires for intelligence wellness services connected lodging and programs for stateless radical with superior intelligence illnesses oregon substance maltreatment problems.

The cardinal provisions of the exemplary ordinance announced Monday see prohibitions connected "persistent camping" successful 1 location, a prohibition connected encampments that artifact sidewalks and a request that section officials supply announcement and marque each tenable effort to place and connection structure anterior to clearing an encampment.

The authorities accounts for astir a 3rd of the stateless colonisation successful the United States. More than 187,000 Californians are successful request of housing.

With tents lining streets and disrupting businesses successful cities and towns crossed the state, homelessness has go 1 of the astir intractable issues successful California and 1 definite to canine Newsom if helium runs for nationalist office.

The politician has besides pushed for laws that marque it easier to unit radical with behavioral wellness issues into treatment.

A authorities audit successful 2024 recovered California spent $24 cardinal to tackle homelessness implicit the erstwhile 5 years but did not consistently way whether the immense outlay of nationalist wealth really improved the situation.

Despite the astir billions of dollars spent connected much than 30 stateless and lodging programs during the 2018-2023 fiscal years, California does not person reliable information needed to afloat recognize wherefore the occupation didn't amended successful galore cities, according to authorities auditor's report.