CALIFORNIA – Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order, July 25, for state agencies and departments to remove homeless encampments.
“Today I announced an executive order to move the process forward. We’re done. It’s time to move with urgency at the local level to clean up these sites. To focus on public health and focus on public safety. There are no longer any excuses. A billion dollars this state has invested to support communities to clean up these encampments,” said Newsom in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Local governments now have the tools they need to address the decades-long issue of homelessness.
Today, we are issuing an executive order that directs state agencies & urges locals to address encampments while connecting those living in them to housing & supportive services. pic.twitter.com/z9dYwAct5w
— California Governor (@CAgovernor) July 25, 2024
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case found that the city did not violate the Eighth Amendment when they criminalized sleeping in public spaces.
The Court’s 6-3 decision, written by Justice Gorsuch, reversed the Ninth Circuit’s earlier decision, allowing cities to enforce such ordinances even if there are not enough shelter beds available.
Fair housing advocates say the ruling chooses to remove unhoused people from public view rather than provide community members with affordable housing.
California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments so far
The executive order directs state agencies and departments to adopt policies consistent with the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) existing encampment policy.
According to the news release, since July 2021, California has resolved more than 11,000 encampments, and has removed 248,275 cubic yards of debris from encampments along the state right of way.
Caltrans prioritizes encampments that pose a threat to the life, health, and safety of the community. They provide advance notice of clearance to people living in homeless encampments and store personal property collected at the site for at least 60 days.
The order encourages local governments to adopt the state’s model.
$3.3 grant for local governments
Newsom also encouraged local governments to apply for the newly available $3.3 billion in competitive grant funding from Proposition 1. The funding is to support individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders — with a particular focus on people who are most seriously ill, vulnerable, or homeless.
Newsom has already invested more than $24 billion in homeless and housing reforms.
To read the full executive order visit https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-Encampments-EO-7-24.pdf
