California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order directing state agencies to begin dismantling homeless encampments throughout the state. This move comes on the heels of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that permits cities to enforce bans on sleeping in public spaces.

Newsom's directive calls for "humane and dignified policies to urgently address encampments on state property," urging local authorities to follow suit. However, despite Newsom's order, the authority to remove these encampments remains with local governments. Although the governor cannot compel local action, he can influence it by leveraging state funding.

Newsom has been vocal about addressing homelessness in California, which has long struggled with a significant crisis of unhoused individuals. Despite extensive state and local efforts, including billions of dollars spent on housing and services, the homeless population remains stubbornly high with thousands of displaced individuals residing across the state.

In total, Newsom’s administration has invested approximately $24 billion in various initiatives to clean up streets and provide housing. Despite these efforts, a recent state audit criticized the administration for not consistently tracking the effectiveness of these expenditures.

The Supreme Court's ruling is considered the most significant decision on homelessness to reach the high court in decades. Newsom praised the ruling, stating that it "provides state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets." He added that the decision "removes the legal ambiguities" that have previously hindered local efforts to manage homelessness.