Facing a Human Tragedy
Homelessness in California tears at the heart of our communities. Parents sleep in tents, veterans endure cold nights on concrete, and countless others face illness or violence without a home. Governor Gavin Newsom's new model ordinance to clear dangerous encampments while linking people to shelter and services marks a pivotal shift. The goal is clear: guide our neighbors to safety and dignity with urgency and care.
Encampments clog public spaces, creating hazards for everyone. They foster crime, disease, and despair, trapping people in cycles of suffering. Yet simply displacing those living there solves nothing. Newsom's plan, fueled by $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding, equips cities with a framework that emphasizes outreach, notice, and support. This is a chance to transform how we confront this crisis.
A Plan Built on Care
The ordinance sets firm but fair rules: no long-term camping in one place, no blocking public pathways, and a requirement to offer shelter before clearing sites. Local governments receive a proven template, rooted in California's success clearing over 16,000 encampments since 2021. Cities can tailor it to their needs, but the core principle remains: act with compassion and accountability.
Encampments pose grave risks. Those living in them face sexual violence, illness, and exposure at alarming rates. Nearly half of California's homeless population grapples with severe behavioral health challenges, including addiction and mental illness. Proposition 1's massive investment in housing and treatment tackles these root issues while providing immediate refuge.
Compare this to harsher tactics. Some policymakers, often aligned with groups like the Cicero Institute, advocate for camping bans enforced with fines or arrests, offering little beyond barebones tent zones. These measures don't end homelessness; they push it out of view, often leaving people without shelter options. California's approach, informed by Housing First research, recognizes that stable housing unlocks recovery.
Proven Progress, Not Empty Promises
California's efforts are yielding results. While homelessness spiked 18% nationwide in 2024, the state kept its rise to 3%. Unsheltered homelessness grew by just 0.45% here, compared to nearly 7% across the U.S. The state led the nation in reducing veteran and youth homelessness. These gains stem from $27 billion invested since 2021 and initiatives like Project Roomkey, which repurposed hotels for shelters.
Local action is critical. Newsom's ordinance, paired with accountability.ca.gov, empowers residents to monitor their city's progress. This transparency ensures resources are used wisely. San Francisco's navigation centers have slashed tent counts to their lowest since 2019. Why aren't all communities embracing these proven strategies?
Some critics claim this approach oversteps personal rights or invites heavy-handed enforcement. But allowing people to perish in encampments isn't liberty; it's abandonment. The Supreme Court's 2024 Grants Pass decision clarified cities' authority to regulate public spaces, yet it doesn't demand cruelty. California's ordinance pairs enforcement with care, prioritizing shelter and services.
Rebuilding Lives, Not Just Clearing Tents
This effort goes beyond removing encampments; it aims to restore lives. Research since the 1980s confirms that stable housing reduces substance abuse and mental health struggles. Cities like San Jose are expanding tiny-house villages, housing people quickly and affordably. These models succeed, but they require bold leadership and community backing.
The stakes are undeniable. Untreated addiction and mental illness drive homelessness, and homelessness worsens those conditions. Proposition 1's focus on behavioral health housing directly addresses this cycle. Why choose policies that punish poverty when we can invest in homes and healing?
California's strategy, while imperfect, is grounded in evidence and empathy. It rejects the cold bans favored by those who view homelessness as a nuisance to conceal. Newsom's ordinance offers a roadmap—urgent, humane, and practical. Local leaders must act swiftly. Our communities, and our neighbors, deserve this commitment.