California Moves to "Take Back the Sidewalks" from Homeless Encampments
California Governor Gavin Newsom is calling for cities and counties across the state to crack down on homeless encampments by adopting a model ordinance that bans tents and makeshift structures on public land.
"It's time to take back our streets. It's time to take back our sidewalks. It's time to clear encampments and offer real alternatives," Newsom said at a May 12 press conference.
The proposed ordinance, which local governments can choose to adopt and tailor, would prohibit the setup of tents or temporary shelters on public property. It would also give city officials the authority to intervene and relocate encampments, provided they give at least 48 hours’ notice.
Under the plan, officials would be required to "take all reasonable steps" to offer shelter to those displaced. "No one should face criminal penalties simply for sleeping outside when there's nowhere else to go," the draft ordinance states.
Newsom’s announcement comes alongside the release of $3.3 billion in state funding, previously approved to expand temporary housing, mental health care services, and treatment options for the most severely ill homeless individuals across California.
The Governor’s Office clarified that the model ordinance is not a one-size-fits-all mandate. “Local flexibility is key to reflect the unique needs and priorities of each community,” the office said in a statement.
Newsom, considered a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race, has recently stepped up efforts to address California’s growing homelessness crisis. The state is now home to an estimated 180,000 unhoused individuals.
In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the legality of local bans on homeless encampments—even in areas where there aren’t enough shelter beds to accommodate everyone. Since then, 42 of California’s 482 cities have enacted some form of anti-camping regulations.
Nationwide, about 160 cities and counties have adopted similar bans as homelessness continues to rise and tents increasingly line sidewalks and public spaces.
(Sources: Reuters, FOX News)
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