Newsom Considers Funding Cut for Cities Not Clearing Homeless Camps

Governor Gavin Newsom is reportedly contemplating funding cuts for cities and counties that are slow to address the growing issue of homelessness in California. With over 180,000 homeless individuals statewide, the governor's administration has allocated $27 billion since 2018 to combat the crisis. However, an audit earlier this year raised concerns about the state's effectiveness in tracking and analyzing its spending on homeless services. The Supreme Court's recent ruling, which allows cities to ban public sleeping and camping, has further empowered Newsom's efforts. This decision overturned a previous ruling that deemed such punishments as cruel and unusual under the Eighth Amendment. Following this, Newsom ordered the dismantling of numerous homeless encampments across California, prompting actions from cities like Oakland and Fresno, which have begun enforcing stricter penalties for camping violations. During a recent event in the San Fernando Valley, Newsom actively participated in cleaning up an encampment, emphasizing the need for tangible results in addressing homelessness. He warned that if progress is not evident, he would consider redirecting funds away from non-compliant counties. Los Angeles County, which is home to approximately 75,000 unhoused individuals—about 40% of the state's total—has been particularly resistant to Newsom's directives, despite receiving around $3 billion in state funding for homelessness and affordable housing initiatives over the past three years.