Newsom Urges California Cities to Ban, Remove Homeless Camps

California Governor Gavin Newsom called on cities to ban and remove homeless encampments from sidewalks, bike paths and other public property, ratcheting up the state’s effort to tackle the crisis.

The governor on Monday released the details of a model ordinance that he said California cities can use for removing homeless encampments. It’s backed in part by $3.3 billion in funding approved by voters in 2024 as part of Proposition 1, which expanded behavioral health housing and treatment for homeless people in the state.

The proposals include prohibitions on persistent camping in one location and on encampments that block sidewalks, ...