California Governor Gavin Newsom is running out of time to fulfill two major promises he made when he took office: addressing the state’s housing crisis and reducing its high rate of homelessness. With just 22 months remaining in his tenure, it has become clear that these ambitious goals will remain unachieved.
Unfulfilled Promises and Rising Crises
When Newsom first campaigned for governor, he pledged to tackle California’s chronic housing shortage and soaring homelessness rates. He even set a bold target of building 3.5 million new housing units. However, years later, those promises have fallen short, and both crises have only deepened. When questioned about his failure to deliver, Newsom backpedaled, calling his 3.5 million-unit pledge “a stretch goal.”
His administration has taken steps to push for housing reforms, passing multiple laws aimed at streamlining housing development and rezoning land. Yet, the root issues—such as the exorbitant cost of construction—remain unaddressed. In some areas, building a single unit of affordable housing can cost as much as $1 million, making large-scale development nearly impossible.
At the same time, despite the state investing approximately $24 billion in homelessness programs under Newsom’s leadership, the number of unhoused individuals has continued to rise. Experts estimate that even four to five times that amount would be needed to provide sufficient shelters, housing, and services to make a significant impact.
Shifting the Blame to Local Governments
Rather than taking full responsibility for these failures, Newsom has increasingly pointed fingers at local governments. He claims that cities and counties have not done enough to facilitate housing construction or effectively utilize state funds allocated for homelessness initiatives.
In a recent move, Newsom launched a website that grades housing and homelessness efforts county by county. The website promotes his administration’s actions while shifting the onus onto local governments, stating: “Now Californians deserve results from their local governments. It’s time for accountability.”
Newsom doubled down on this stance in a statement, saying, “No one in our nation should be without a place to call home. As we continue to support our communities in addressing homelessness, we expect fast results, not excuses.”
Criticism from Local Officials
Newsom’s approach has sparked backlash from county officials and housing advocates, who argue that state policies and bureaucracy are the real roadblocks to progress. Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties, dismissed Newsom’s website as “just spin without the substance to back it up.”
“Counties aren’t the bottleneck to addressing housing and homelessness,” Knaus stated. “The real barriers to progress are the state-mandated bureaucratic hurdles that slow local governments down, forcing them to navigate a maze to get resources on the ground.”
Local governments, particularly in affluent areas such as Marin County and the San Francisco Peninsula, have been criticized for resisting low-income housing projects. However, Newsom’s administration itself has also faced scrutiny for inefficiency. A 2023 report from the state auditor highlighted major flaws in the management of state homelessness programs, further undermining Newsom’s claims.
Political Ramifications for Newsom
With his governorship coming to an end, Newsom is likely to continue his blame game in an effort to minimize political fallout. Analysts believe he is positioning himself for a potential presidential run in 2028, but California’s homelessness crisis could haunt his campaign.
Video footage of sprawling homeless encampments in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles could serve as potent political ammunition for his rivals. If Newsom is to maintain national credibility, he may need to address California’s housing crisis more effectively instead of simply passing the blame.
As California’s housing and homelessness issues worsen, residents remain frustrated by the lack of meaningful solutions. Whether the state’s next leader can succeed where Newsom has failed remains to be seen.
For more updates on California’s housing crisis, visit Daljoog News.