A new bill in California has made it illegal for homeless residents to live in their encampments, further complicating the already challenging lives of the unhoused population.
Earlier in May, California's governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to eradicate homeless encampments, while encouraging hundreds of local governments to ban tent camps on sidewalks, bike paths, parklands, and other types of public property.
The move comes after a series of controversial audit reports that revealed failures by state and local governments to collect data on billions of dollars allocated for homeless services. The act, however, has banned unsheltered local people from sleeping outside when they have nowhere else to go.
"Now it's illegal and you could be arrested. The police will come and ask you to pick up your property and immediately leave or you will be arrested, I'm not sure what the law is, but it's a law. That statewide, any encampment is illegal. So there's no more tents, there's no more setting up tents," said John Coy, a veteran selling jewelry on the beach. Referring to himself as a nomad, he used to camp out on the streets of Los Angeles.
Newsom also announced the release of 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in grant funding for communities to expand behavioral health housing and treatment options for seriously ill and homeless people, adding up to the already spent 24 billion U.S. dollars on over 30 programs aimed at addressing homelessness.
The expenditures have brought no benefit visible for him and the even less self-sufficient groups, said John.
"I see four people out here doing outreach work. That's all I see. Why don't they have a building out here where there's social workers, filling out paperwork, talking to people, getting them mental health (support), housing, food, getting them whatever they need. I don't see that here in the district. If there's a billion dollars set out for that, there should be a big, big building out here to serve the community. And there's nothing. There's nothing," said John.
California's latest crackdown has been enabled by a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2024 that allows stricter anti-camping laws, even in the absence of available shelter beds. While authorities investigate how billions of tax dollars earmarked for the homeless crisis may have been misspent, the most vulnerable will continue to be impacted by the lack of affordable housing and stricter regulations.
California government eradicates homeless encampments
California government eradicates homeless encampments
California government eradicates homeless encampments
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
