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Newsom Unveils Model Ordinance to Ban Homeless Encampments in California

The governor ties $3.3 billion in state funding to local adoption of encampment bans, following a Supreme Court ruling enabling stricter enforcement.

A man carries a mattress into a tent set up on a sidewalk, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A person sleeps on a sidewalk, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Tents are set up in a homeless encampment Monday, May 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
City sanitation workers clear an encampment as workers help bring unhoused people to interim housing, as part of an 'Inside Safe' operation, on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Overview

  • Governor Gavin Newsom released a statewide model ordinance for banning homeless encampments, urging cities and counties to adopt the measure immediately.
  • The ordinance prohibits persistent camping in one location, blocks encampments from obstructing sidewalks, and requires officials to offer shelter options before clearing camps.
  • Newsom announced $3.3 billion in state-controlled housing and treatment funds to incentivize local governments to implement the ordinance.
  • The initiative follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that permits enforcement of camping bans even without available shelter beds, reshaping legal approaches to homelessness.
  • Homeless advocates warn that punitive measures could worsen housing instability, while local governments call for sustained multi-year funding to address root causes.