California Orders Homeless Camps to be Cleared
California Governor Gavin Newsom has mandated the dismantling of homeless encampments throughout the state following a US Supreme Court ruling that permits cities to ban outdoor public sleeping.
The executive order, issued Thursday, targets state agencies but does not impose direct requirements on local municipalities. Newsom emphasized the urgency, stating, “This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.”
Despite significant investment, California continues to grapple with one of the highest homeless populations in the nation, with encampments prevalent along sidewalks, beaches, and beneath freeways. A federal report highlights that nearly half of the country’s unsheltered population resides in California.
Newsom’s order does not compel local officials to dismantle the encampments but warns that the state may withhold funds from counties or cities that fail to align with state policies. Critics and advocates for the homeless argue that criminalizing homelessness does not address the underlying issues and further stigmatizes those in need. Dismantling camps can result in individuals losing vital possessions, including legal documents and medications.
San Francisco, the state’s fourth-largest city, has already begun removing tents following the Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson. This move comes as Republican critics accuse Democratic leaders of failing to manage homelessness, a significant issue in many American cities led by Democrats.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who hails from California’s Bay Area and has launched her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, faces scrutiny over urban issues, including homelessness. Newsom, also a Democrat, is believed to have presidential aspirations as well.
California’s high housing costs have left an estimated 180,000 people without permanent shelter in 2023, according to a report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Nationwide, homelessness is increasing due to chronic affordable housing shortages, with around 653,000 people unhoused in 2023, the highest number since tracking began in 2007.
Experts and organizations working with homeless populations have condemned Newsom’s decision. People Assisting the Homeless (Path) stated that service providers were not consulted and that the order will “push vulnerable residents off state property,” hindering their efforts.
Scout Katovich, an ACLU lawyer, criticized Newsom’s order as “draconian,” “ineffective,” and “potentially cruel,” arguing it tramples on the rights of the unhoused and displaces them without regard for the harm caused.
