Overview

• The U.S. Supreme Court's June decision allows cities to ban homeless camps even without sufficient shelter beds.
• Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order encouraging local governments to clear homeless encampments.
• Santa Monica City Council voted to amend its anti-camping ordinance, giving police more discretion in enforcing the law.
• Critics argue that these new measures are cruel and exacerbate the hardships faced by homeless individuals.
• Nearly two-thirds of California's 186,000 homeless people are unsheltered, with the total homeless population up 8% since 2022.