California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he will start redirecting funds from cities and counties that don’t show clear progress in reducing homelessness.
This announcement came after Newsom helped clear a homeless camp in Los Angeles with the help of the state’s Department of Transportation.
Earlier this year, Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to remove homeless camps from state property and urged local governments to do the same.
This order followed a US Supreme Court decision in June that supported an Oregon city’s right to ticket homeless people for sleeping outside. Newsom’s order aims for state officials to use humane and respectful methods to handle encampments on state property.
On Thursday, Newsom criticized some local governments for not doing enough, despite the large amount of resources the state has provided.
Governor Newsom Demands Action on Homelessness or Funds Will Be Redirected, Criticizes Local Governments for Inaction(California Governor)
California Governor Gavin Newsom made a strong statement urging local governments to act on homelessness or face losing state funding. He emphasized that there should be no excuses since cities and counties already have the resources, flexibility, and state support they need to tackle the problem. Newsom said he is speaking for the 40 million Californians who are frustrated with the ongoing issue. He wants to see real results and is personally invested in making changes.
California has the largest homeless population in the United States, with over 180,000 of the 653,000 people experiencing homelessness nationwide living in the state, according to a 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Newsom’s comments follow some resistance from local governments regarding how to handle homelessness. For example, in July, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to ensure that homeless people arrested during the clearing of encampments will not be placed in jails. They said this policy was already in practice.
Addressing this resistance, Newsom clarified that his executive order focuses on working with local service providers to get resources to people in need, rather than issuing citations or using the criminal justice system. He criticized the idea of criminalizing homelessness, saying that what is truly criminal is ignoring the suffering and struggles of people who are homeless.
Newsom also stated that his criticism is not aimed specifically at the City of Los Angeles or its Mayor, Karen Bass, but rather at counties in general that need to do more to address the crisis. He emphasized that his call for action is not a political move but a sincere plea for local governments to step up and act decisively in the face of this emergency.
According to Newsom, the process of redirecting funds could begin in January when the state starts preparing its budget proposals. This means that local governments will need to show significant progress in addressing homelessness or risk losing financial support from the state.
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