California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) ordered the removal of homeless encampments across the state.
The executive order follows a June Supreme Court ruling that allowed cities to legally remove homeless encampments on private property.
California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) responded to last month’s ruling, stating, in part, that it “provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets.”
The order states that “over 180,000 people” are “estimated to have experienced homelessness on any given night in 2023, including 123,000 people who experienced unsheltered homelessness, living in tents, trailers, and vehicles across the state.”
State agencies will adopt policies such as “site assessment in advance of removal operations to determine whether an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety or infrastructure such that exigent circumstances require immediate removal of the encampment,” “posting of a notice to vacate at the site at least 48 hours prior to initiating removal,” “collection, labeling, and storage for at least 60 days of personal property collected at the removal site that is not a health or safety hazard,” among other policies.
The new 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 press release. “The state has been hard at work to address this crisis on our streets. There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part.”
According to the release, the state of California has “resolved more than 11,000 encampments” since July 2021.
Las month, Los Angeles opened a high-rise homeless shelter that contains 228 studio apartments, 47 one-bedroom apartments, and three apartments for managers. The 19-story building cost $165 million.
Those living in the high-rise will have access to a variety of amenities, including a gym, pool, art room, library, and other spaces.
