Homelessness experts weigh in on Newsom’s executive order on encampments
Summary of Fox5 California Homeless Discussion
The Fox5 interview report presents mixed reactions from homelessness experts to Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order on clearing encampments:
1. Dr. Margot Kushel (Professor at UCSF):
- Expressed concerns about the harm caused by displacement or "sweeps"
- Noted that sweeps can disconnect people from service providers and their belongings
- Emphasized that without offering real alternatives, people will simply move elsewhere
- Stressed that the root cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing
2. Jeff Levine (Executive Director of Long Beach Rescue Mission):
- Viewed the order more positively, seeing value in accountability
- Believes that some enforcement is necessary for public health and community standards
- Advocated for a balanced approach of compassion and accountability
- Emphasized that affordable housing alone is not a "silver bullet" solution
3. Other reactions:
- Many local officials, like San Diego and San Francisco mayors, applauded the order
- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called it "unfortunate," fearing it would lead to criminalization
Overall, the experts agree on the need for more affordable housing and comprehensive solutions, but differ on the potential effectiveness and consequences of Newsom's encampment clearance approach. They highlight the complexity of the issue, emphasizing the need for multifaceted strategies that address housing, employment, mental health, and addiction services.
Was the Governor's Order Fairly Summarized?
The article provides a somewhat balanced portrayal of Governor Newsom's executive order, but it does not fully capture all aspects of the order. Here's an analysis of how the article portrays the order:
1. Partial coverage: The article focuses primarily on the encampment clearance aspect of the order, which is indeed a key component. However, it doesn't fully elaborate on other important aspects, such as the emphasis on providing services and support before removal.
2. Legal context: The article correctly mentions the Supreme Court decision that preceded Newsom's order, providing important context.
3. Mixed reactions: The article presents a range of reactions from local officials and experts, which helps provide a balanced view of the order's reception.
4. Lack of detail on state actions: The article doesn't mention the specific policies that state agencies are required to adopt, such as site assessments, advance notices, and proper handling of personal property.
5. Funding aspect: While the article mentions Newsom's past threats to withhold funding, it doesn't fully explain the current order's approach to funding and resources for addressing homelessness.
6. Humanitarian approach: The article doesn't emphasize the order's stated intention to address the issue "urgently and humanely," which is an important aspect of the original order.
7. Local government autonomy: The article correctly notes that local governments are encouraged, but not legally bound, to follow the order.
In summary, while the article provides a fair overview of some aspects of the order and its reception, it doesn't fully capture all the nuances and details of the original executive order. It focuses more on reactions to the order rather than providing a comprehensive explanation of the order itself.
Summary of CBS Interview
This transcript covers a news segment about California Governor Gavin Newsom's executive order to clear homeless encampments. Here's a summary of the key points:
1. Governor Newsom issued an executive order directing officials to dismantle thousands of homeless encampments across California.
2. The order comes after a Supreme Court ruling that allowed cities to enforce bans on sleeping in public spaces.
3. The order requires giving campers 48 hours notice before clearing encampments.
4. Some local officials, like San Francisco Mayor London Breed, support the order and plan aggressive sweeps to make homelessness "uncomfortable" in their cities.
5. Homeless advocates, represented by Jennifer Friedenbach from the Coalition on Homelessness, oppose the order, calling it inhumane and ineffective.
6. Friedenbach argues that sweeps exacerbate homelessness by disrupting people's lives and connections to services.
7. The Bay Area Council, represented by Adrian Covert, supports the order, arguing that encampments are dangerous for homeless individuals and that clearing them is a form of compassion.
8. Covert suggests that California needs to invest more in interim housing and shelters rather than focusing solely on permanent housing solutions.
9. The transcript presents both sides of the debate, highlighting the tension between addressing public health and safety concerns and providing humane solutions for homeless individuals.
10. Both sides agree that more investment in affordable housing and services is needed to address the root causes of homelessness.
Homelessness experts weigh in on Newsom’s executive order on encampments
Above: Scott Silverman, CEO of Confidential Recovery, joins FOX 5 on July 29 to talk about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order to clear encampments.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order allowing state and local officials to dismantle homeless encampments has drawn mixed reactions from homelessness experts within California as state officials continue to try and find a permanent solution for the ongoing crisis.
The executive order was issued in response to a Supreme Court decision in late June that granted officials authority to remove the encampments and ticket people for camping in public in Grants Pass, Oregon.
The executive order calls for state agencies to remove homeless encampments from state lands, such as state parks, beaches, agency buildings, highways and the areas beneath them.
Californians were swift to react after news of the executive order was shared. Some people, like San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and San Francisco Mayor London Breed, applauded the governor’s executive order.
However, others, like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have called the decision “unfortunate,” expressing that she believes it “will usher in a new wave of criminalization” elsewhere, according to LAist.
So, what do homelessness experts think about Newsom’s latest executive order?
KTLA spoke with Jeff Levine, the chaplain and executive director of Long Beach Rescue Mission, a Christian-based organization that provides services to unhoused individuals, and Dr. Margot Kushel, a professor and director at Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco.
“What we know from homelessness displacement or sweeps is that it does a fair amount of harm and disconnects the people from service providers. It also removes people from their belongings, which includes sentimental things like people’s pictures of their families, medications and people’s documents, some of which can prove their identity,” Kushel told KTLA. “A lot of harm can come from sweeps, and ultimately, if you don’t offer people a real outcome, they’re just going to have to move someplace else because they can’t dematerialize; they will show up someplace else.”
Kushel also explained that on an individual level, struggles with mental health or addiction could lead that person to experience homelessness as well.
On the other hand, Levine told KTLA that introducing accountability to those who don’t do their part to help solve the issue is a good thing, but execution could be challenging.
“We’re not going to arrest our way out of homelessness, but we do need the tools and ability to address situations where public health is compromised. I don’t think it should be OK to smoke fentanyl at 2 p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Target. I think there needs to be order and just laws that protect our communities and establish a healthy moral standard for the community. I also believe that, in many cases, this will help people consider their lives and their trajectory and engage in services,” Levine told KTLA in an emailed statement.
Kushel emphasized that experts know what drives homelessness and how to solve it.
“The cause [of homelessness] is a lack of affordable housing, and every single solution that has ever been shown to work has to focus on that,” Kushel said.
According to a May Rental Market Report from Zillow, the “typical rent” in Los Angeles was $2,920 per month, meaning tenants will need to make almost $117,000 a year to live comfortably. Similarly, the percentage of state residents who could afford a home dropped to a 16-year low last year.
Levine believes more affordable housing is a step in the right direction but not a “silver bullet” for the homelessness crisis.
“A balanced approach of compassion and accountability will take us a long way. A multi-faceted model is needed to address a very complex situation. Housing First is a philosophy for approaching homelessness that has incredible value for some. But it is not a silver bullet. There is a difference between a family who falls into homelessness for the first time because they were priced out of an apartment and a person who has been living on the L.A. River in an encampment for 18 years,” Levine stated.
He noted that while Long Beach Rescue Mission offers temporary housing to unhoused individuals, they also focus on “equipping men and women with the life skills and soft skills needed to succeed when transitioning into permanent housing.”
“Funding for programs is essential, and if required before subsidized housing, it can reduce recidivism and provide a margin in which more housing can be developed. We have to talk about housing, but it can’t be the only thing we talk about. We have to discuss employment, but that’s only part of the conversation. We have to create more long-term treatment facilities for those suffering from severe mental illness and, when necessary, conserve those who cannot take care of themselves on the streets,” Levine said.
Kushel applauded the Newsom administration for addressing the ongoing crisis and its root cause but noted that California would have to make strides in closing the income and housing cost gaps so people can afford housing while also working to increase capacity at shelters so more unhoused individuals could utilize that option.
The Long Beach Rescue Mission is doing its part to increase shelter capacity.
“We are growing and will break ground on a new 60-bed shelter for women and children this year. Beginning next year, we will break ground on a new shelter for men aged 18-24. We’re expanding because the need is great. We are at capacity in our shelters, but if someone is ready to come in, we’ll make a way,” Levine said in a statement.
As for Newsom’s executive order, local officials are not legally bound to follow it, though it says they are “encouraged” to adopt the same policies.
In the past, Newsom has threatened to withhold money from local governments that didn’t take action to address the issue.
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