<!-- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ --></p> <p>from <a href=""https://calmatters.org/author/marisa-kendall/"" title=""Posts" by="" marisa="" kendall="" class=""author" url="" fn="" rel=""author"">Marissa Kendall</a>CalMatters</p> <figure> <img decoding="async" width=""1200"" height=""800"" src=""https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/111524_Anatomy-Of-A-Sweep-JK_CM_06.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1"" class=""attachment-post-thumbnail" size-post-thumbnail="" wp-post-image="" alt=""A" person="" wearing="" a="" beige="" jacket="" and="" cap="" walks="" down="" city="" street="" pulling="" large="" crumpled="" blue="" tarp.="" the="" scene="" is="" framed="" by="" tall="" buildings="" parked="" cars="" modern="" glass="" structure="" in="" background.="" muted="" urban="" setting="" illuminated="" soft="" natural="" light="" highlighting="" quiet="" solitary="" moment.="" decoding=""async"" srcset=""https://i0.wp.com/calmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/111524_Anatomy-Of-A-Sweep-JK_CM_06.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1" https:="" sizes=""(max-width:"/><figcaption>A homeless man carries a tarp and some of his belongings across Polk Street during a cleanup at a homeless encampment in San Francisco on November 15, 2024. Homeless people on Cedar Street are forced to move their shelters and belongings regularly by San Francisco city workers. Photo by Jungho Kim for CalMatters</figcaption></figure> <p>This story was originally published by <a href=""https://calmatters.org/"">CalMatters</a>. <a href=""https://calmatters.org/subscribe-to-calmatters/"">Sign up</a> for their newsletters.</p> <p>In 2025, we began to see the effects of a more punitive approach to homelessness by state and local governments.</p> <p>A <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/06/homelessness-enforcement-data/"">CalMatters investigation</a> found that the number of people arrested or cited for crimes related to homelessness increased in cities across the state. At least 50 California cities have passed new ordinances targeting homeless encampments, according to an <a href=""https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5257640"">analysis</a> by UC Berkeley law students. All this came after the decision of the US Supreme Court last year in <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/2024/06/california-homeless-camps-grants-pass-ruling/"">Grants Pass v. Johnson</a>which gave cities more freedom to fine people for sleeping in public places.</p> <p>Gov. Gavin Newsom has redoubled his efforts to encourage cities to crack down on people living outdoors. In May, he called on all local governments in the state to <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/05/newsom-encampment-sweep-ordinance/"">adopt regulations</a> which restrict public camping. In August, he launched a <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/08/newsom-homeless-encampments-task-force/"">new state task force</a> dedicated to clearing camps.</p> <p>2025 was also the year some California counties finally <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/09/ca-homelessness-funding-population/"">began to progress</a> on homelessness, which experts attribute to an influx over the past few years in state, federal and local housing and services funds. Of the 29 places in California that reported an official homeless count, more than half saw fewer homeless people compared to 2024, according to <a href=""https://homelessstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CoCs-that-Publicly-Reported-2025-Counts-to-Date-Final-Report.pdf"">analysis</a> from a count at a given time by the Center for Urban Initiatives. Contra Costa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Ventura, San Diego and Los Angeles are among the counties where numbers are declining.</p> <h2>Outlook for 2026</h2> <p>Cuts, cuts and more cuts. <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/10/ca-federal-homeless-housing-cuts/"">Proposed Federal Cuts</a> to housing funds and homeless funds, as well as a <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/10/ca-federal-homeless-housing-cuts/"">changing federal funding</a> away from permanent housing, could derail the progress California has made in combating homelessness. The state is too <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/06/california-homelessness-funding-budget/"">reduction of money</a> contributes to housing and services for the homeless.</p> <p>At the same time, the federal administration has signaled it will divert funds from states, cities and organizations that support undocumented immigrants, diversity and inclusion efforts and the transgender community. Some homeless service providers in California worry that could put them at risk of losing federal dollars.</p> <p>This article was <a href=""https://calmatters.org/housing/homelessness/2025/12/year-in-review-homelessness-2025/"">originally published on CalMatters</a> and is republished under <a href=""https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/"">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives</a> license.</p> <p> Copy the HTML
