Newsom unveils an encampment directive, and cities in LA County weigh in ...Middle East

Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday, May 12, called on local governments across California to implement new encampment policies “without delay,” rolling out a new model ordinance that intensifies pressure on cities like Los Angeles, where leaders remain divided over enforcement and regional coordination.

The model ordinance is intended to guide cities in setting “appropriate rules around encampments” and establishing enforcement procedures. It includes provisions such as prohibiting “persistent camping,” banning encampments that obstruct sidewalks, and requiring outreach and notice before removing encampments.

The directive is accompanied by the release of $3.3 billion from Prop. 1, a voter-approved bond measure aimed to expand mental health facilities and substance abuse treatment for homeless Californians.

But in Los Angeles, where debates over homelessness policy have fractured relationships between city and county leaders, the governor’s announcement has landed amid deepening tensions over how encampments should be handled–and who should control the region’s response.

The city is grappling with an embattled “no camping” law that has evolved since Mayor Karen Bass took office, while both the city and county have begun distancing themselves from Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the agency long tasked with regional coordination. Adding another layer of complexity, President Trump last week announced a new national center for homeless veterans at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus—a move that could bolster services or potentially divert attention and resources from broader local efforts.

Reactions to the governor’s directive varied. While some elected officials welcomed the state’s push for clearer guidelines, others–and many advocates—raised concerns that the focus on enforcement could further criminalize people living on the streets. Several local jurisdictions said they are still evaluating the directive and awaiting further direction.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass framed the directive as part of an ongoing partnership with the state, and pointed to early signs of progress in the city’s response.

“In partnership with the Governor’s office, we drove homelessness down in Los Angeles (for the) first time in years in 2023 and preliminary data suggests another decrease in 2024,” Bass said in a statement.

Since taking office, Bass has championed the city’s Inside Safe program, which aims to bring people indoors from encampments through voluntary outreach and housing. Last year, she criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take up Grants Pass v. Johnson, warning that it could open the door to the criminalization of homelessness.

The mayor added on Monday: “We will continue working together to keep moving tents and people off of streets and into housing as we improve and refine our approach. Thank you to Governor Newsom for his continued collaboration and vital support in this effort.”

Other city leaders stressed the need for stronger, more uniform rules across jurisdictions.

Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who last year requested a report on how the city can bypass LAHSA to contract with service providers directly, welcomed the directive as a long-overdue effort to set clear expectations.

“It’s a welcomed introduction to give very clear guidelines for all the cities to be able to play by the same rules,” she said on Monday. “It helps to ensure that no one area is deflecting the situation into another community. We are all going to be hopefully playing by similar rules.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, a key proponent of the county’s move to create its own homeless department and reduce reliance on LAHSA, praised the directive as a necessary step.

“It strikes an important balance between protecting public safety and health while ensuring compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness,” Barger said in a statement. “The model ordinance provides local governments with clear guidelines while emphasizing outreach and services. This is a practical step forward in helping communities responsibly manage encampments and connect people to the support they need.”

But not all county leaders were aboard. Supervisor Janice Hahn acknowledged the danger of encampments, while cautioning against punitive responses.

“Encampments are not good for anyone. They too often become dens of drug dealing where women are harassed and assaulted,” Hahn said in a statement. “And that is why we are investing in programs like Pathway Home and Inside Safe where we move entire encampments into motels at once. In the meantime, our board has made it clear that we do not want people to end up in our already overcrowded jails just because they are homeless.”

Advocacy groups and some service providers were more critical of the governor’s directive, warning that well-intentioned policies could lead to increased criminalization if not paired with robust housing and support services.

People Assisting the Homeless, or PATH, a major homeless service provider operating across California, said encampments are “unsafe and inhumane” for both homeless individuals and surrounding communities—but warned that enforcement-heavy strategies miss the root of the problem.

“The proliferation of encampments across California is a direct result of the lack of social services, shelter, and affordable housing options,” PATH’s CEO Jennifer Hark Dietz said. “The only true solution is to provide unsheltered individuals with the support they need and a real opportunity to move indoors. Any efforts that prioritize enforcement over support amount to criminalization—an approach we know is both costly and ineffective.”

Other advocacy groups echoed those concerns.

Rowan Vansleve, president of Hope the Mission, a nonprofit homeless services provider based in the San Fernando Valley, welcomed the directive as a “step forward,” but warned that without sustained investment in housing, outreach and healthcare, the directive risks being little more than a temporary fix.

“There needs to be a continued emphasis on allocating these state resources to the full continuum of care—outreach, interim housing, healthcare, mental health support, job training, and long-term housing navigation,” Vansleve said. “Without this holistic approach, clearing encampments risks being a superficial fix.”

Several cities across Southern California are still reviewing the governor’s directive and weighing how it fits into their homelessness strategies.

Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the city is reviewing the next steps and will determine whether to seek guidance from its City Council. Derderian noted that the city has its own housing department and a range of services in place to support homeless residents.

City officials in Pico Rivera said they are still reviewing Newsom’s model ordinance to assess how it might complement the city’s existing approach, which includes enforcement when necessary but prioritizes outreach, services and long-term solutions.

“We can’t allow compassion to come at the cost of community safety or the well-being of those living in crisis,” City Manager Steve Carmona said. “Our goal is to support individuals in finding a path out of homelessness while also ensuring that our parks, sidewalks, and public areas remain safe and usable for everyone.”

Carmona said the city appreciates the governor’s continued focus on homelessness and the release of state funding to support housing and treatment. He said city leaders will continue working with regional partners and service providers to ensure the city’s response remains both humane and effective.

In Long Beach, city officials signaled they plan to stay the course unless directed otherwise by the mayor and City Council.

In a memo sent by Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler to city leadership, city staff wrote that they would continue implementing the city’s current homelessness response model—one that incorporates “enforcement as only one option in a larger service system.”

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Staff writers David Wilson, Anissa Rivera and Kristy Hutchings contributed to this story

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