Senator Dahle Joins Senate Republicans & Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Compassionately Clear Homeless Encampments

SB 1011 is a bipartisan effort that would protect public health and safety by barring homeless encampments near schools, open spaces and major transit stops, as well as on sidewalk camping if shelter is available.  Several cities are already enforcing similar measures, but this tool is not available to all local jurisdictions statewide. This measure balances government accountability for maintaining safe public spaces with compassion for individuals experiencing homelessness.  It does so by ensuring that no camp may be cleared without a 72-hour notice and that enforcement officers provide campers information about sleeping alternatives, homeless and mental health services, and shelters in the area with availability. California’s homelessness population currently is 181,399 statewide, a nationwide high.  Estimates are that the population has increased by at least 22,500 over just the past three years, and that California is home to almost half of the nation’s unsheltered homeless people.  The problem continues to grow despite the nearly $22 billion directed to the problem over the past six years. It’s time to clean up California.