California Leaders Praise Governor Newsom's Ongoing Strategies to Reduce Homelessness

Strategic Insights -

California leaders across the state are expressing their support and gratitude for Governor Gavin Newsom's continued efforts to address homelessness. A new statewide task force, announced by Governor Newsom, aims to aggressively prioritize and deploy the state's comprehensive network of services to quickly remove encampments on state rights-of-way and connect individuals with wrap-around supportive services and shelter.

Key Takeaways:

  • Los Angeles County has seen a decline in homelessness over the last two years, with 3,000 individuals moved into interim housing and 1,600 into permanent housing, thanks to dedicated collaboration and investment from Governor Newsom.
  • Kern County has also seen a reduction in its homeless population, and Supervisor Leticia Perez praises Governor Newsom's establishment of the SAFE Taskforce, which brings together state agencies to collaborate with locals to clear encampments and connect people with housing and care.
  • Alameda County has reduced overall homelessness by 3% as of its last PIT count, thanks to targeted investment and enhanced coordination with its cities.
  • Cities across the state, including Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Long Beach, are partnering with the state to clear encampments and connect individuals with shelter and support services.
  • Business leaders, including the Bay Area Council and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, are applauding Governor Newsom's efforts to reduce homelessness, citing a reduction in homelessness in their largest communities and a comprehensive strategy to address the challenge.

Statistics:

  • 3,000 individuals moved into interim housing in Los Angeles County
  • 1,600 individuals moved into permanent housing in Los Angeles County
  • 10.5% reduction in unsheltered homelessness in Bakersfield's 2025 Point-in-Time Count
  • 3% reduction in homelessness in Alameda County
  • Reduction in homelessness in the Bay Area and across California, funded by state investment

Sources:

  • Governors Office: "Governor Newsom Announces Statewide Task Force to Aggressively Prioritize and Deploy Services to Address Homelessness"
  • Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors: "Statement on Governor Newsom's Ongoing Strategies to Reduce Homelessness"
  • Kern County Board of Supervisors: "Supervisor Leticia Perez Praises Governor Newsom's Establishment of SAFE Taskforce"
  • Alameda County Board of Supervisors: "Alameda County Reduces Overall Homelessness by 3%"
  • League of California Cities: "League of California Cities Statement on Governor Newsom's Ongoing Strategies to Reduce Homelessness"
  • Bay Area Council: "Bay Area Council Applauds Governor Newsom's Efforts to Reduce Homelessness"
  • Silicon Valley Leadership Group: "Silicon Valley Leadership Group Welcomes Governor Newsom's Efforts to Reduce Homelessness"