California's Progressive Policies Worsen Homelessness

Matthew Desmond, a renowned sociologist and writer focused on poverty and homelessness in America, has expressed his concern over the recent executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom of California to remove homeless encampments and makeshift shelters. This move affects thousands of unhoused individuals across the state.

Newsom's executive order comes after a Supreme Court decision that allows cities to enforce bans on sleeping in public places. The governor’s directive is considered the most consequential step any state has taken following this verdict.

Despite allocating billions to combat homelessness during his tenure, Governor Newsom faces ongoing resistance from Californians to efforts aimed at effectively addressing the housing crisis.

Public frustration continues to escalate, with business owners complaining about cleaning up waste left behind by homeless individuals who also vandalize properties. As much as it appears that people want solutions for homelessness, many seem more inclined towards making them disappear than providing sustainable solutions like affordable housing.

The governor's action may exacerbate conditions for those without homes, as studies have shown that sweeps lead to stress-induced substance use and property loss, and can push people into dangerous situations involving street isolation or coercive sex acts.

However, despite these potential ramifications, many city officials have welcomed Newsom's order given their concerns around safety issues associated with homeless encampments, which often compromise public safety and affect small businesses negatively.

Desmond questions Californians’ stance on policies addressing affordable housing while they continue resisting reforms such as Proposition 13—a law capping property taxes significantly—which encourages homeownership longevity but drains public resources, severely limiting the provision of social services, including affordable home development projects.

Zoning laws further complicate matters where nearly 96% of residential land only permits single-family homes, leaving no room for multi-family apartments or public housing complexes essential to tackling homelessness issues head-on.

A community meeting held last August in Millbrae exemplified this resistance when residents protested against transforming a local hotel into interim housing despite being part of an area where 78% of the population voted for Joe Biden.

Research repeatedly shows that permanent affordable housing is the solution to homelessness, but resistance such as seen in Millbrae hinders any significant progress towards achieving this goal.

With executive orders like Newsom's and a lack of adequate shelter spaces due to maxed-out capacities coupled with fierce NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard), Desmond questions where these unhoused individuals are expected to go. Will they end up in internment camps on the city outskirts or in repurposed prisons?

While Californians aren't alone in their frustration about homelessness, it’s crucial not to let our growing resentment affect those who have already lost so much. Instead, we should channel it into demanding solutions that work—opening up neighborhoods and reforming tax breaks.

Desmond challenges what he calls an unworthy form of progressivism: one that acknowledges the abstract right to housing but vehemently resists actualizing this commitment by providing brick-and-mortar homes for those without them. The time has come for Californians—and indeed all Americans—to consider how they can be part of sustainable solutions addressing homelessness effectively.