California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order mandating the dismantling of homeless encampments across the state. The order comes as part of his renewed efforts to address the homelessness crisis and public safety in California cities.
Announced on Thursday, the executive order directs state agencies and departments to implement policies that addresses the homeless encampments while “ensuring the dignity and well-being” of the affected individuals.
“This executive order directs state agencies to move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them — and provides guidance for cities and counties to do the same,” Newsom said in a statement.
“The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets,” Newsom added. “There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.”
The order is expected to impact tens of thousands of homeless people in California who have established long-term encampments, according to Fox News. Newsom’s office emphasized that the order “directs state agencies and departments to adopt humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property, including by taking necessary and deliberate steps to notify and support the people inhabiting the encampment prior to removal.”
Newsom’s actions follow a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled prohibiting sleeping outside is not a violation of the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the Constitution. Since the ruling, several cities that had previously hesitated to clear homeless encampments have now taken action to combat public encampments, particularly those where drug use is common.
According to CalMatters, last year the US Department of Housing and Urban Development counted over 180,000 homeless people in California. California is home to about 28% of the nation’s total homeless population.
