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May 13, 2025

California Gov. Newsom Calls on Local Officials to Criminalize Unhoused Encampments 
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California Governor Gavin Newsom is escalating his crackdown on the
state's unhoused, again calling on California cities and counties to
sweep and ban encampments. Governor Newsom said he's allocated $3.3
billion to help localities enact the ban.

Gov. Gavin Newsom: "It is time to take back the streets. It's time to
take back the sidewalks. It's time to take these encampments and provide
alternatives. And the state is giving you more resources than ever, and
it's time, I think, to just end the excuses."

There are some 187,000 unhoused people in California, according to the
latest data. Housing advocates warn criminalizing homelessness will only
compound the issue, and slammed Governor Newsom for focusing on the
failed model of forced drug and mental health treatment, while failing
to address the core issues of housing shortages and skyrocketing housing
costs.


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