Governor Newsom’s Pledge to End Family Homelessness
In 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom made a bold commitment while standing on a street in Oakland, flanked by supportive legislators: to eradicate family homelessness within five years. With a remarkable $75 billion budget surplus and a federal stimulus injection of $27 billion, his administration allocated $12 billion to address the crisis, including $3.5 billion designated for housing units and rental assistance.
The approach? A housing-first strategy. This concept, which California adopted back in 2016, was influenced by the federal government’s advocacy in 2013. The idea is to provide housing without the prerequisite of a permanent residence funded by taxpayers.
Yet, the reality under this plan presents a stark contrast. Between 2017 and 2021, California witnessed a staggering 34% increase in homelessness, while unsheltered homelessness surged by 47%.
Now, as we reach 2025, the situation has worsened significantly. Family homelessness has escalated by 22%, and the number of homeless students rose by 9% just last year.
The crisis afflicting homeless families in California seems to be spiraling out of control. Back in 2021, I raised concerns about major flaws in Newsom’s strategy for ending family homelessness. My experience leading the largest housing program for homeless women and children in Northern California for 13 years made it clear to me that merely providing housing wouldn’t address the underlying issues like trauma, addiction, or rebuilding lives.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that a one-size-fits-all housing-first policy is not a viable solution. Unfortunately, Newsom appears to overlook the mounting evidence of its shortcomings while deflecting important calls for reform.
Meanwhile, the grim statistics reveal only part of the picture. The real tragedy lies in broken lives and futures that have been compromised. At St. John’s, nearly 78% of the women we serve battle addiction, 70% have experienced domestic violence and mental health issues, and half of them did not finish high school. Many carry deep-rooted childhood trauma, highlighted by high ACE scores. Some struggle with anosognosia, making it difficult to recognize the extent of their difficulties.
But under Newsom’s housing initiative, these mothers receive nothing more than a set of keys. Services that address addiction, trauma, and mental health are often seen as optional.
This approach is akin to offering someone a lifeline while ignoring the weight that’s dragging them down.
The consequence has been a heartbreaking rise in homeless families and children, their safety, education, and futures compromised in favor of ineffective political ideologies rather than genuine solutions.
Newsom’s legacy regarding homelessness has deep roots and far-reaching impacts. As San Francisco’s mayor, he implemented a program called “Care Not Cash,” which allocated $1.5 billion yet failed to achieve any permanent reduction in homelessness. A state audit in 2021 criticized California’s response to homelessness as lacking adaptability, and a 2024 report revealed $24 billion spent over five years without consistent tracking of outcomes.
This isn’t just poor leadership—it’s sheer negligence.
Homeless families deserve more than just promises; they need real opportunities for stability. And taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability.
California must move away from failed housing-first policies and adopt more holistic approaches that tackle homelessness from the ground up. For many experiencing homelessness, lasting change necessitates more than just a roof over their heads. It requires active engagement such as job training, mental health support, addiction recovery, financial education, and rebuilding positive community relationships.
True stability emerges from a proactive approach, which focuses on healing and growth rather than just passing out keys.
The ultimate goal should be to empower individuals to thrive—not just to survive.
A 22% rise in family homelessness represents more than a policy oversight; it is a fundamental moral fail.
Every child left without stable shelter and every student forced to do homework from a car’s backseat represents not only personal tragedy but also significant consequences for California’s future.
Prioritizing safety, stability, and pathways to success isn’t merely a political choice; it’s an ethical obligation. If action isn’t taken, today’s crisis may evolve into tomorrow’s major disaster.
California’s wealth and innovative spirit should place it at the forefront of addressing this issue. However, under Newsom’s leadership, we seem to be falling further behind, sacrificing families on the altar of failed ideologies and political convenience.
