Homelessness has become a pressing issue in California, with the state accounting for nearly a third of the homeless population in the United States.
The situation has prompted action from lawmakers and advocates, leading to the passing of Proposition 1, a measure aimed at tackling the state's homelessness crisis.
California voters approved Proposition 1, which imposes strict requirements on counties to allocate funds for housing and drug treatment programs to combat homelessness.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom supported the measure, campaigning extensively for its passage. Despite the state's Democratic majority, the narrow margin of victory indicated some unease with the effectiveness of current homelessness policies.
"This is a huge victory for doing things radically different when it comes to tackling homelessness. The biggest change CA has seen in DECADES. Now it's time to get to work -- repairing the damage caused by decades of broken promises and neglect to those suffering from severe mental illness. Thank you, California," said Newsom on X.
One of the most alarming consequences of the homelessness crisis in California is in San Francisco and the prevalence of human waste on the streets.
The lack of access to proper sanitation facilities has led to a significant increase in public defecation, leaving neighborhoods and public spaces contaminated with feces. This issue has garnered local and national attention, with critics pointing to the failure of the city's authorities to address the problem effectively.
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Under Proposition 1, counties are now mandated to allocate approximately two-thirds of the funds generated from a voter-approved tax on millionaires, enacted in 2004, to housing and programs dedicated to homeless individuals with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse problems.
Additionally, the measure allows the state to borrow $6.38 billion to construct housing units.
Discussing the problem of vagrancy in California during a debate with Florida Governor DeSantis in December, Newsom said: "We've also invested unprecedented resources in reforming our behavioral health system. Ron has literally the worst mental health system in America, forgive me, outside of Mississippi and Texas, so with all due respect to being lectured on some of these topics Ron DeSantis is not the one I'm going to be listening to."
DeSantis immediately hit back by raising a printout and stating, "This is a map of San Francisco. There's a lot of plots on that. You may be asking, what is that plotting? Well, this is an app where they plot the human feces that are found on the streets of San Francisco."
Read: Gov. DeSantis Flying People Back To Florida From The Chaos In Haiti
Homelessness in Florida
According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the number of homeless individuals in Florida rose significantly in 2023.
The state saw an increase of nearly 5,000 people facing housing crises, contributing to the overall national record of homelessness. This surge in homelessness has been particularly noticeable in the Tampa Bay area, where organizations dedicated to addressing homelessness have been overwhelmed by the growing demand for housing assistance.
On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1365, legislation that compels counties to guarantee that homeless people receive the mental health and drug addiction services they require while living in a designated site away from public streets, with a focus on public safety.
“Florida will not allow homeless encampments to intrude on its citizens or undermine their quality of life like we see in states like New York and California,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The legislation I signed today upholds our commitment to law and order while also ensuring homeless individuals have the resources they need to get back on their feet.”
On March 6, the Republican-controlled State Senate voted 27-12 along party lines to pass HB 1365, which would bar cities and counties from allowing people to sleep at places such as public buildings and in public rights of way.
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Senate sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said the goal of the bill is to provide safer locations for people than sleeping at places such as parks or under overpasses and pavilions.
“Floridians have been working endlessly to address many of the issues associated with homelessness,” said Martin. “Many groups from government agencies to non-profits have seen their employees and valuable resources spread thin while helping our homeless neighbors. This bill allows us to take a major step forward by providing a framework for these groups to more efficiently, safely, meaningfully, and effectively serve our neighbors. Further, it returns our parks, sidewalks, and public spaces to their intended uses for all to enjoy.”
Under Florida's HB 1365:
- Homeless individuals are prohibited from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks—and instead placed in temporary shelters monitored by law enforcement agencies.
- The state of Florida has the enforcement tools needed to ensure local governments comply.
- Homeless shelters will require occupants to not use drugs.
- These shelters will also include substance abuse and mental health treatments.
HB 1365 also provides alternatives for when homeless shelters have reached max capacity.
- It directs the Department of Children and Families to authorize temporary campsites that do the following:
- Maintain sanitation, including access to clean and operable restrooms and running water.
- Provide access to substance abuse and mental health treatment resources through coordination with the regional managing entity.
- Prohibit illegal substance use and alcohol use on the property and enforce this prohibition
Proposition 1 in California:
The state could borrow up to $6.4 billion to build:
- More places where people could get mental health care and drug or alcohol treatment
- More housing for people with mental health, drug, or alcohol challenges.
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