(Scypre.com) – California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order calling for the dismantling of homeless encampments across the state. This action follows the high court’s ruling last month, which sided with an Oregon city that issued tickets to homeless individuals for sleeping outdoors. The ruling rejected the argument that such ordinances violated the Constitution’s ban on “cruel and unusual” punishment.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them,” Newsom stated. “There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.” The order emphasizes adopting humane and dignified policies to address encampments on state property.
With over 180,000 homeless individuals, California has the largest homeless population in the United States, according to a 2023 homelessness assessment report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The national figure stands at approximately 653,100, a 12% increase from the previous year.
Newsom’s directive is being closely watched by other states and cities, and it has sparked criticism from various quarters. Chris Herring, an assistant professor of sociology at UCLA, expressed his concerns, stating, “Newsom could have issued this order before the Supreme Court decision. Now, states and localities are free to confine and arrest people even when there is no shelter available.” Herring added that before the ruling, cities needed to provide shelter offers before removing encampments. Now, they can carry out sweeps with the threat of issuing fines, leading to potential arrests and incarcerations.
Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, accused Newsom of “criminalizing poverty” and “doubling down on failed policies.” He questioned, “Governor Newsom, where do you expect people to go? This is a shameful moment in California history.”
In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed’s spokesperson, Parisa Safarzadeh, noted that the city had already been proactive in addressing encampments. “Our city encampment teams and street outreach staff have been going out every day to bring people indoors and to clean and clear encampments,” she said, pointing to a five-year low in the city’s tent count.
However, Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness in San Francisco, described Newsom’s order as “a punch in the gut.” She highlighted the existing waitlists for housing and the full capacity of shelter beds in the city, criticizing the move for targeting those with no other options.
Recent data from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority showed a slight decrease in the homeless population for the first time in six years, with a 2.2% drop in the city and a 0.27% drop in the county. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass attributed this to a comprehensive approach focusing on housing and services rather than criminalization. “Strategies that just move people along from one neighborhood to the next or give citations instead of housing do not work,” she asserted.
Supporting Bass’s viewpoint, a study by the Rand Corp’s Center on Housing and Homelessness found that encampment clearing efforts in Los Angeles had no long-term impact on the homeless population. The study observed temporary declines in unsheltered populations that lasted two to three months before returning to previous levels.
Newsom welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling last month, stating it “provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets.” He emphasized that the decision removed legal ambiguities that had hindered local officials for years.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger echoed the importance of local government’s role, stating, “Cities have an obligation to develop housing and shelter solutions in tandem with support services provided by County government. This formula, which is largely based on partnerships, is how we can deliver permanent results. No single entity can achieve that.”
As California moves forward with this new mandate, the nation watches closely, assessing the balance between public safety, humane treatment, and the logistical challenges of addressing homelessness on such a large scale.