Homelessness

With California experiencing a serious budget deficit and the fiscal squeeze tightening, Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators also face demands for billions of more dollars for troubled vital services.

If passed, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10 would give California voters the opportunity to enshrine housing as a fundamental right in the state constitution. The amendment could dramatically reshape how the state confronts the housing crisis.

From Jeanne Kuang of CalMatters’ California Divide team: Low wages and unpredictable hours make fast food the industry with the highest percentage of homeless workers in the state, according to a new union-sponsored report that is sure to stoke debate this year amid the latest contentious legislation over the industry’s labor practices.  The report released […]

California cities of every size lack shelter beds for the state’s growing homeless population. A new bill would force local governments to do more, and punish ones that don't plan housing for homeless Californians.

Now that California has opted to phase out diesel trucking, the state will find out in the years to come which was right: the aspirations of environmentalists or the warnings of the trucking industry.  On Friday the California Air Resources Board unanimously voted to ban the sale of new diesel big rigs, delivery and garbage […]

At the direction of a bipartisan group of state lawmakers, the state auditor will complete a detailed audit of spending on California homelessness programs. The number of unhoused has grown, even as spending has increased.

As CalMatters’ new newsletter writer, I’m embarking on a periodic series of interviews with fellow newcomers — first-term California legislators. With resignations and redistricting, there are 31 brand new lawmakers who are also making this the most diverse Legislature ever. First up: Assemblymember Corey Jackson, who embodies this change. He’s a Moreno Valley Democrat, chairperson […]

Democratic voters in California cities are pushing mayors and city councils to clear homeless camps. Leaders are responding with new ordinances, from Sacramento to San Diego.

From CalMatters’ homelessness policy reporter Marisa Kendall: California cities want more money to tackle homelessness.  That was the main takeaway from a rally Wednesday where about 100 city officials made a big ask of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and the Legislature: They want $3 billion a year in guaranteed homelessness funding from the state.  That […]

California politicians need to show visible results in order to justify ongoing spending on homelessness. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom agree that clearing encampments is key. But making homelessness invisible fails to solve the root problems. As Bass emphasizes permanent solutions, will small gains be enough?