California faces an escalating homelessness crisis, with recent counts revealing over 180,000 individuals experiencing homelessness across the state. Of these, more than 123,000 are unsheltered, living on streets in tents, trailers, cars, and makeshift shelters. California's struggle with homelessness is the most severe in the United States, encompassing approximately one-third of the nation's unhoused population. Experts link this dire situation primarily to a shortage of affordable housing, a persistent issue in the state.
The crisis is anticipated to worsen following significant staff reductions in the state's Office of Community Planning and Development. The office, responsible for funding housing and support for unhoused individuals, has lost 84% of its personnel due to budget cuts initiated by Elon Musk's "department of government efficiency." These cuts pose a substantial threat to the state's ability to address homelessness effectively.
In response to the growing issue, Fremont, a city in the Bay Area, has enacted legislation prohibiting camping on public property and outlawing activities that support encampments. Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order mandating the removal of encampments from state-owned lands. Alongside these measures, Newsom has announced a $920 million funding initiative aimed at tackling the crisis. This includes $760 million in new funding and approximately $160 million in grants for local governments.
“We want to see results. We have to address unsheltered homelessness, encampments and tents,” Governor Newsom emphasized.
Local governments are now under pressure to demonstrate progress in clearing encampments and creating new shelter options. Newsom's executive order comes with stringent "accountability measures" for local authorities, who may face funding cuts if they fail to achieve significant improvements. An online tool will allow residents to monitor progress within their communities.
“We have been too permissive … we need them cleaned up. We’re providing unprecedented support, now we need to see unprecedented results,” Newsom stated.
Furthermore, a recent ruling by the US Supreme Court permits cities to criminalize individuals for sleeping outdoors even when shelter spaces are unavailable. This legal development adds complexity to how cities manage their homeless populations.
“If we don’t, we’re not going to continue to fund excuses, [we’re] not going to continue to fund failure,” Newsom warned.