Conservatives often portray California as a failed state and its governor, Gavin Newsom, as a radical, left-wing ringleader presiding over a circus.
As evidence, they point to homeless encampments that are clearly visible — especially in large cities — as Exhibit A.
Newsom challenged that characterization when he issued an executive order on Thursday that requires all California agencies to remove homeless encampments on state property as expeditiously as possible.
The New York Times called it “the nation’s most sweeping response” to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave government agencies the ability to dismantle homeless encampments, even if unhoused residents have nowhere else to go.
Newsom order: ‘humanely remove encampments’
The governor’s order carries a sense of urgency, but don’t expect encampments to disappear overnight, including here in San Luis Obispo County.
The mandate applies only to state property, not to county or city parks, streets, sidewalks, parking lots and open spaces where unhoused people live in cars, tents or make-shift shelters.
The order does, however, “encourage” municipalities to “humanely remove encampments from public spaces” using whatever resources are available — including state financial assistance.
It does not mention any repercussions for local jurisdictions that fail to act, though the state could withhold grants for homeless programs if cities don’t respond to the governor’s “encouragement.”
Local agencies could be affected in another way as well: When state agencies dismantle encampments under their jurisdiction, new ones could spring up in areas not under state control.
In that sense, Newsom isn’t really solving the problem, but moving it around in a way that adds to the burden on local governments and shifts blame to local politicians.
And while Newsom obviously wants quick action, that may run counter to the “humane” approach he also advises.
If we’re going to kick people out of encampments, shouldn’t we first ensure they have somewhere to go besides jail?
What’s happening in SLO County?
In San Luis Obispo County, government agencies and nonprofits have been gearing up to offer not just more emergency housing, but also more types of housing, including non-congregate living quarters like the individual units at the Cabins for Change projects in Grover Beach, which total 50 beds.
A similar project with 80 cabins is planned in San Luis Obispo as a joint city/county project. Welcome Home Village is tentatively scheduled to open in 2025 near the intersection of Bishop Street and Johnson Avenue. It’s specifically intended to provide housing for people who have been living in encampments on the Bob Jones Trail.
That’s in addition to shelters already in operation, including the 128-bed 40 Prado Homeless Services Center in San Luis Obispo; ECHO’s 130-bed shelter in Atascadero; and 20 beds at a converted Motel 6 in Paso Robles.
The question is, will the housing coming on line be enough? Judging by statistics, that’s doubtful.
In the most recent point-in-time count conducted in January, homelessness was down 19% compared to 2022. Even so, there were still 1,171 unhoused people counted in SLO County; 374 were staying in shelters, which left 797 living on the streets, in creekbeds and cars.
And remember, these figures are based on what volunteers were able to see. Some unhoused people may have gone unnoticed.
SLO County’s plan to reduce homelessness
The county does have a five-year plan to reduce homelessness by 50% over five years .
It set some ambitious goals: Add 300 interim housing units to provide emergency shelter, 500 permanent supportive housing units and 1,667 low-income housing units by 2027.
Local governments — in partnership with nonprofit organizations —are making progress, but more needs to be done, especially if we’re going to phase out encampments.
In addition to permanent and semi-permanent structures, we need more areas where people are allowed to live in cars and RVs and more campgrounds where they can legally pitch their tents.
But none of this can be rushed.
We saw what happened when the county hurriedly set up its Safe Parking Site on Oklahoma Avenue as an alternative for people living in RVs parked along Palisades Avenue in Los Osos .
There were health and safety issues — exacerbated by a lack of management — at the Oklahoma Avenue site, and it ultimately was closed.
One problem was exchanged for another, which is exactly what could happen if agencies haphazardly shut down encampments at the behest of the governor.
Newsom’s order may send a message to agencies that have been slow to act — and it could leave outsiders with the impression that California is trying to clean up its act.
But local governments in San Luis Obispo County — which have finally united behind a plan to reduce homelessness — should not be pressured into dismantling encampments until they are ready to deal with the consequences.
Most Popular
Comments / 0