Gavin Newsom's recent campaign efforts to portray himself as tough on crime include a plan to address homeless encampments. Critics argue this approach overlooks the need for substantial investment in affordable housing and likely leads to higher incarceration rates for individuals struggling with mental health and addiction. Current practices underscore the inefficiency of punitive measures, as the financial burden of jailing individuals outweighs the potential cost of providing stable housing. The article argues for a return to 'housing first' policies that prioritize affordable housing as a means to mitigate homelessness effectively.
When Newsom was running for mayor, he used a program called 'Care Not Cash' as a platform-the idea was to cut welfare payments and use that money to force people into treatment or crappy housing. It failed as a policy; it worked as a political tool.
Newsom's plan to encourage cities to crack down on homeless encampments is as pointless as it is cruel: without massive state spending on affordable housing, the problem isn't going to vanish.
Collection
[
|
...
]