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3mo ago

Newsom Unveils Model Ordinance to Ban Homeless Encampments in California

The governor ties $3.3 billion in mental health and addiction funding to a voluntary template aimed at clearing public spaces and addressing the homelessness crisis.

A man carries a mattress into a tent set up on a sidewalk, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A person sleeps on a sidewalk, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Tents are set up in a homeless encampment Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
City sanitation workers clear an encampment as workers help bring unhoused people to interim housing, as part of an 'Inside Safe' operation, on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Overview

  • Governor Gavin Newsom released a state-drafted model ordinance for cities and counties to adopt, banning persistent camping, blocking sidewalks, and requiring shelter offers before clearing encampments.
  • The ordinance is voluntary, but adoption is incentivized with $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding for mental health and addiction treatment facilities.
  • California’s unsheltered homeless population remains the largest in the U.S., with over 187,000 people recorded in 2024, two-thirds of whom live outdoors.
  • A 2024 Supreme Court ruling enabled governments to enforce public camping bans, providing legal clarity for policies like Newsom’s proposal.
  • Bay Area cities, including San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, and San Francisco, have already escalated encampment sweeps under similar measures, reflecting a broader shift in policy enforcement.