Santa Barbara homeless advocates react to Newsom’s order to clear homeless encampments
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Thursday to direct state agencies on how to remove homeless encampments.
This comes a month after a Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces.
The order directing state agencies to remove homeless encampments from state lands has the regional director of PATH Santa Barbara concerned.
"We know clearing encampments in this manner doesn’t work … we’re concerned that what we may see is that people move out of state areas and into our cities to further exacerbate the situation that we already see," said regional director Elizabeth Adams of PATH Santa Barbara.
The order makes clear that the decision to remove the encampments remains in local hands.
But homeless advocates say moving people out of camps isn't enough, and that they need to be directed to the right resources.
"We need to provide intensive personalized case management and engagement," said Adams.
Directors at SB ACT believe this order is a call for communities to increase affordable housing.
"When I read through more of what his announcement is saying … he’s talking about how we need to have the dignity piece as well. he talks about how we have to have the shelter and the housing in place … so really governor newsom is saying we have to keep building the shelter and the housing simultaneously while we're doing encampment clearings," said associate director Landon Ranck of SB ACT.
Both agencies hope the community will continue to respond to homelessness with compassion and dignity.
"I know about compassion because for three and a half year I was living in a car," said ambassador Joe Alfaro of SB ACT.
"Our plan is to continue to do what works … come together even more as a community with all of our community," said Adams.
"My hope is the community will hear the need for this and the urgency of this and they’ll show up and advocate for real solution to homelessness," said Ranck.
Newsom’s order is aimed at the thousands of tents and makeshift shelters across the state that line freeways, clutter shopping center parking lots and fill city parks.
The order comes after a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this summer allowing cities to enforce bans on sleeping outside in public spaces.
Under Newsom’s direction, state agencies would be required to prioritize clearing encampments that pose safety risks, such as those along waterways.
Officials should give “reasonable” advance notice to homeless people, offer to connect them to local services and help store their belongings for at least 60 days.
Local cities and counties are urged to adopt similar protocols.
