California Governor Newsom Releases Model Ordinance to Address Homelessness

Strategic Insights -

As part of California's ongoing efforts to tackle the nationwide homelessness crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom has released a model ordinance for cities and counties to address unhealthy and dangerous encampments. The Governor is calling on every local government to adopt and implement local policies without delay, backed by billions in state funding and authority affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. This announcement is coupled with the release of $3.3 billion in voter-approved Proposition 1 funding to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for the most seriously ill and homeless in California.

Key Takeaways:

  • The model ordinance provides clear formal guidelines for clearing encampments, which can help local governments set appropriate rules around encampments and establish effective enforcement procedures.
  • The ordinance prohibits persistent camping in one location, prohibits encampments that block free passage on sidewalks, and requires local officials to provide notice and make every reasonable effort to identify and offer shelter prior to clearing an encampment.
  • The Governor has provided local communities with more than $27 billion to address homelessness and has created stronger accountability laws and tools to ensure that every community is doing its part.
  • Since July 2021, the state's proven approach has cleared more than 16,000 encampments and over 311,873 cubic yards of waste and debris from sites along the state right of way.
  • California has dramatically slowed the growth in homelessness and reduced the number of veterans and youth experiencing homelessness, more than any other state.
  • Homelessness continues to increase nationwide, increasing in 2024 by more than 18%, but California is bucking the national trend by holding the statewide increase to 3%.
  • California is also one of the few states that have dramatically blunted the increases in unsheltered homelessness, holding it to 0.45%.

Statistics:

  • Since July 2021, $27 billion has been provided to local communities to address homelessness.
  • $3.3 billion in Proposition 1 funding will be made available to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for the most seriously ill and homeless in California.
  • More than 16,000 encampments have been cleared and over 311,873 cubic yards of waste and debris have been removed from sites along the state right of way since July 2021.
  • Homelessness has increased nationwide in 2024 by more than 18%, while California has held the statewide increase to 3%.
  • Unsheltered homelessness grew by nearly 7% nationwide in 2024, while California's increase was 0.45%.
  • California has dramatically blunted the increases in unsheltered homelessness.

Sources:

  • "California Governor Newsom Releases Model Ordinance to Address Homelessness" (US State of California, May 12, 2025)
  • "Proposition 1 Funding for Behavioral Health Housing and Treatment" (US State of California, May 12, 2025)
  • "California Homelessness Facts and Figures" (US State of California, 2025)