Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive to clear homeless encampments from state properties has faced criticism from cities across California. Since the order last summer, city officials have expressed frustration with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for its slow response to requests to clear encampments. Some cities report waiting months for action and claim they are not consistently informed about Caltrans’ plans to address the camps.
Governor Newsom recently released a model ordinance urging cities to adopt stricter rules against public camping. The ordinance suggests prohibiting camping in one place for more than three nights and building semi-permanent structures on public property. Newsom emphasized the need for cities to prioritize shelter and services while implementing these ordinances. However, he warned that cities failing to address encampments might face financial consequences.
Despite the state’s efforts, some experts argue that the model ordinance does not address the core issue of insufficient housing and shelter. Dr. Margot Kushel, director of the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, noted that frequent encampment sweeps can harm residents’ health and disrupt their connections to services.
Governor Newsom announced $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding to create residential treatment beds and outpatient treatment slots. However, some local leaders argue that more ongoing funding is needed to match the scale of the crisis.
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