Governor News once again urges cities to ban homeless camps
Sacramento – Gov. Gavin Newsom once again urged California cities and counties to ban homeless camps on Monday, adding to his campaign to follow the state’s leadership and evacuate tents from sidewalks and other public property.
“It's time to get back to the streets,” Newsom said in a virtual press conference. “It's time to get back the sidewalks. It's time to take these camps and provide alternatives, and the state has given you more resources than ever before, and I think it's time to end the excuse.”
In California, homelessness is a challenging political issue, mainly due to the state’s high cost of living, lack of affordable housing and a shortage of behavioral health and medication opportunities. The lack of progress could define the legacy of the state's 40 governors, although the state and county repeatedly blame cities and counties, despite not receiving billions of dollars in state funding.
Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke in October when Mayor Karen Bass announced new state funding to face the homeless crisis in Los Angeles.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The Democratic governor issued a model ordinance requiring local governments to adopt his office to describe it as a starting point before jurisdictions develop their own policies. Newsom's plan requires locals to ban on continuous camping at one location and block sidewalks. It also requires local officials to try to provide shelter before demolishing the temporary residence.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger celebrated the ordinance, saying it balances public safety and compassion for the homeless.
“The model regulations provide clear guidelines for local governments while emphasizing promotion and service. This is a practical step to helping communities manage camps responsibly and connect people with the support they need,” Bagh said.
The city of Los Angeles prohibits homeless camps within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers and may cite violations. It is undoubtedly illegal for Angelenos to refuse to clean up the space of a wheelchair or place a tent within five feet of the door.
Newsom will announce in conjunction with Monday's announcement, which received $3.3 billion in 2024's voter-approved Proposition 1, aims to expand the mentally ill and homeless populations of behavioral health housing and treatment options. Funding does not depend on the city where camps are prohibited.
The tents line up a block on 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The governor's office said the funding increased the $27 billion the state has already provided to local governments to address homelessness.
Advocates of the homeless have repeatedly argued that the state does not have enough supportive housing and shelter beds to transport people removed from tents and sidewalks into better conditions. The governor sees homeless people as humanitarian crises and health and safety issues.
“I just don't fundamentally solve this problem with the plans that the state continues to fund.” Newsom said of homeless money.
Last year, Newsom issued an executive order requiring state agencies to revoke homeless camps on state property and similarly urged local governments to do so.