California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday called on all local governments to “resolve encampments” and offered a model “they can put to work immediately.”
The Governor’s Office said the plan is backed by billions in state funding and the Supreme Court’s decision last year that allows governments to penalize people for sleeping on sidewalks and other public areas.
“There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,” Newsom said in the statement issued Monday.
The Governor’s Office said the state has provided local leaders with the largest state investment in history and legal clarity on the issue. “Now, we’re giving them a model they can put to work immediately, with urgency and with humanity, to resolve encampments and connect people to shelter, housing, and care,” Newsom said.
The state’s Model Ordinance contains several key provisions, which the Governor’s Office says can be modified based on local need:
- A prohibition on persistent camping in one location
- A prohibition on encampments that block free passage on sidewalks
- A requirement that local officials provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter prior to clearing an encampment
The entire Model Ordinance can be viewed on the state’s website.
The Governor’s Office says the ordinance helps local communities take a balanced approach to prevent encampments with compassion and care. “The time for inaction is over. There are no more excuses,” Newsom said.
Recent estimates place California’s homeless population at approximately 187,000 individuals, 75,000 in Los Angeles County.