Newsom Calls On Cities To Clear Homeless Encampments
In a move that signals a dramatic pivot in California’s approach to homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled guidance urging cities to ban homeless encampments on public property, tying billions in state funding to compliance.
The timing is no coincidence. With the 2028 presidential race looming and Newsom already positioning himself as a major Democratic contender, this new strategy appears aimed not only at reshaping California’s urban sprawl—but also at redefining his political image on a national stage.
For years, Newsom championed expansive, well-funded homelessness initiatives. Since 2019, the state has poured $24 billion into programs to alleviate the crisis. Yet, by early 2024, California had reached a record homeless population of 187,000, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. The dissonance between dollars spent and problems solved became a liability—politically, economically, and socially.
Newsom’s new guidance marks a notable shift from permissive to prescriptive. Under the proposed model ordinance, cities would prohibit tents on sidewalks, parks, bike paths, and other public spaces. It also limits outdoor sleeping with sleeping bags or blankets to three consecutive nights.
This pivot is enabled, in part, by last year’s Supreme Court ruling upholding an Oregon law that restricted public camping. That decision granted legal precedent to municipalities looking to enforce similar bans—precedent Newsom is now seizing upon.
Despite the crackdown tone, Newsom’s plan includes key humanitarian caveats: no one is to be criminally punished for sleeping outside when no alternative shelter is available. Cities must make “every reasonable effort” to offer shelter and services before dismantling encampments. Newsom can’t mandate compliance, but he’s offering $3.3 billion in state funding as powerful incentive for cities that align with his vision.
Framed in his own words, “There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,” the governor is betting that voters—both in California and beyond—are ready for a more assertive, outcomes-focused approach to homelessness.
Predictably, progressive voices are not pleased. Critics argue the measure targets the homeless, not homelessness, and fails to address the root causes like housing affordability and mental health care access. Current Affairs magazine accused Newsom of “fighting homeless people,” not the crisis, warning that the ordinance merely pushes people out of sight, not out of danger.
This internal conflict underscores the ideological rift within the Democratic Party as 2028 approaches. Newsom’s move may alienate the activist wing of his base, but it could play well with moderate Democrats and independents—especially in states weary of rising public disorder.