Despite Governor Gavin Newsom channeling $24 billion into homelessness since taking office in 2019, California continues to grapple with a severe homelessness crisis. The recent directive to dismantle thousands of homeless encampments, following a Supreme Court decision, highlights the ongoing struggle to find effective solutions.
Governor Newsom’s administration claims to have moved over 165,000 homeless individuals into temporary or permanent housing in the past two fiscal years. However, the persistent presence of encampments and the high number of unsheltered individuals suggest that the problem is far from resolved.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which upheld an Oregon city’s ban on homeless residents sleeping outdoors, has given local leaders more authority to remove homeless campers. Newsom’s directive aims to act on this ruling with “urgency and dignity,” but it also raises questions about the effectiveness of simply moving people along without addressing the root causes of homelessness.
Research indicates that clearing encampments may have limited long-term effects. A study by the RAND Corporation found that dismantling encampments had little impact on reducing a city’s homeless population. Additionally, a survey by the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative revealed that 75% of homeless adults in California were local residents who became homeless in the county where they were last housed.
The directive will require state agencies to work with local governments to provide services and housing, rather than just moving campers. However, the challenge remains: can these efforts truly address the underlying issues of high housing costs and lack of affordable housing that contribute to homelessness in California?
Governor Newsom’s approach, while comprehensive, underscores a critical question: Is the significant funding being effectively utilized to create lasting solutions, or are we merely treating the symptoms of a deeper problem?
