Executive Order
Newsom Orders California Officials to Remove Homeless Encampments
The order instructs state agencies on the procedures to clear the numerous tents and temporary shelters.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In a significant move aimed at addressing California's persistent homelessness crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Thursday directing state agencies to dismantle homeless encampments across the state. This directive marks a pivotal moment in Newsom's ongoing efforts to tackle a problem that has long plagued California's urban and suburban areas.
The order instructs state agencies on the procedures to clear the numerous tents and temporary shelters that have proliferated along highways, congested shopping center parking lots, and populated city parks. However, the governor emphasized that the authority to decide on the removal of these encampments ultimately resides with local officials. "We must act with urgency to tackle hazardous encampments," Newsom stated, highlighting the immediate need for action.
Background and Context
This initiative follows a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this summer, which permitted municipalities to impose restrictions on sleeping in public areas. The case was the most pivotal regarding homelessness to reach the Supreme Court in decades, coinciding with a growing struggle among cities nationwide to find politically viable solutions to an increasing population of individuals lacking stable housing, alongside public outcry regarding associated health and safety concerns.
California has been at the forefront of the nation's homelessness crisis, with the state accounting for 28% of the nation's homeless population in 2022. According to the most recent data, California had 181,399 homeless individuals, with a significant 68% being unsheltered. Major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco have been particularly affected, with visible encampments becoming a common sight.
The Executive Order
Newsom's executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them. The order provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same, urging local governments to use substantial funding provided by the state to take similar action. Newsom's administration can exert influence by withholding funding from counties and cities that do not comply with the directive.
Governor Newsom has made record-level investments to address the housing crisis, investing over $24 billion across multiple state agencies and departments. These investments have included billions of dollars in funding to assist local jurisdictions in providing services and wrap-around support to people living in encampments. In the fiscal year 2022-2023, these investments helped lift more than 165,000 people out of homelessness and into interim or permanent housing.
Political and Public Reactions
The executive order comes amid heightened criticism from Republicans regarding California's homelessness dilemma, particularly as Vice President Kamala Harris—who previously served as California's district attorney, attorney general, and senator—embarks on her presidential campaign. The vice president announced her candidacy over the weekend following Joe Biden's declaration that he would not run for re-election.
While the order has been met with approval from some quarters, it has also faced criticism from advocates for the homeless who argue that simply dismantling encampments without providing adequate housing solutions is not a sustainable approach. "We need to ensure that people are not just moved from one place to another but are given real opportunities for stable housing," said a spokesperson for a local homelessness advocacy group.
Moving Forward
Governor Newsom's order directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal. The order encourages local governments to emulate the state’s successful model to adopt local policies and to use all available resources, including those provided by the state’s historic investments in housing and intervention programs, to address encampments within their jurisdictions.
The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part," Newsom asserted.
As California continues to grapple with its homelessness crisis, the success of this executive order will depend largely on the cooperation between state and local governments and the effective implementation of supportive housing and services. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this directive can make a significant impact on reducing the number of homeless individuals and improving the overall quality of life in California's communities.