Homeless encampments

The number of homeless people in some far Northern California counties appears to be dropping, according to a count conducted in January.

Supporters said the changes would improve oversight, while opponents argued they would create new obstacles without solving the city's broader homelessness challenges.

Two years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass v. Johnson decision — which allowed governments to enforce public camping bans without violating the Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment — more than 350 cities and 14 states have adopted laws or measures to crack down on street homelessness.

Whoever takes the mantle as California’s next governor will face an immediate test as they try to solve the crisis of homelessness on the streets.

Homelessness prevention shows promising results in California, as advocates push to spread it statewide and nationally.

A $700 million state program targets homelessness, but housing shortages, staffing challenges and funding gaps are making it harder to move people into permanent housing.

A California company is using AI to help diagnose homeless Californians. The technology promises better access to health care, but it also raises questions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration is pressuring local leaders to pass ordinances regulating homeless encampments, among other requirements.

The new law responds to a recent crackdown on homeless encampments nationwide, following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling.

A new law going into effect Jan. 1, 2026 prevents cities from penalizing outreach workers who provide services such as legal aid or hand out blankets at encampments.

Three camps are owned and operated not by the city, but by Elk Island Trading Group, a landowner that flips blighted real estate.

Grants Pass re-awarded a $1.2 million homelessness grant. A Roseburg developer plans a container-home village for 150 people by summer.