New executive order may impact cities' access to federal funding to address homelessness

By Caroline Grinder, legislative advocate (community services)

Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at addressing homelessness. Although the order bears some resemblance to actions spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom in recent years, several of its provisions could impact the state's overall approach to homelessness - including access to federal funding.

What does the order do?

The order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to reverse judicial precedents and end consent decrees that limit states' and local governments' ability to commit into treatment people on the streets who are a risk to themselves or others.

It also directs federal agencies to prioritize grants for states and municipalities that ban public drug use, camping, and related public safety issues. The order calls for increased investment in treatment centers and other facilities for people with serious mental illness and explicitly prohibits the use of federal funds for supervised drug injection sites or illicit drug use.

The actions are also detailed in a White House summary of the order.

How could this impact California?

The state could see impacts to programs that support a "housing first" and "harm reduction" approach to homelessness. These strategies remove barriers to housing and treatment services by not requiring sobriety for those with substance use disorders. The order directs the U.S. Attorney General to take legal action against organizations that receive federal funding and "permit the use or distribution of illicit drugs."

However, parts of the order do align with recent guidance from the state. In May, the Governor urged cities to adopt a model ordinance that would make it illegal to camp in one place for more than three nights in a row, block streets or sidewalks, and build semi-permanent structures.

In recent years, Cal Cities has supported efforts to address many of the issues raised in the order through CARE Court, changes to the state's conservatorship laws, money for behavioral health housing, and the Grants Pass decision.

It's unclear what the actual impact of this order will be. However, one thing is clear: With over 180,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in California last year - and state cuts to funding for local governments to address homelessness - more work and support are clearly needed.