SACRAMENTO (Diya TV) — In a bold escalation of California’s strategy to combat homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday announced the formation of a statewide task force to clear homeless encampments, restore public spaces, and expand access to shelter and health services.

The newly launched State Action for Facilitation on Encampments (SAFE) Task Force will mobilize multiple state agencies to coordinate a sweeping crackdown on unsheltered homelessness—especially in California’s 10 largest urban centers, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego.

“We’re launching a new task force to clear encampments, restore public spaces, and connect people with shelter and services,” Newsom said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. “California is taking action by reducing unsheltered homelessness and outperforming the nation in slowing this crisis.”

A Multi-Agency Blitz to Reclaim Public Space

The SAFE Task Force will integrate resources from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, and the departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Community Development. According to Newsom’s office, the team will focus on encampments along state rights-of-way that pose the greatest safety risks or public health concerns.

Priority cities include:

  • Los Angeles

  • San Francisco

  • San Diego

  • Sacramento

  • San Jose

  • Fresno

  • Long Beach

  • Oakland

  • Anaheim

  • Bakersfield

Within 30 days, operations to dismantle encampments in these areas are expected to begin.

A Strategy Backed by Court Decisions and Executive Orders

The move comes on the heels of a 2024 executive order and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded the authority of state and local governments to remove encampments—especially those deemed unsafe or unsanitary.

This legal momentum gave the green light to California officials to act more decisively. The governor’s office has clarified that while enforcement is central to the SAFE Task Force, housing placements, substance abuse treatment, and healthcare access remain core priorities.

Restoring Safety Without Abandoning Compassion

“No one should live in a dangerous or unsanitary encampment,” Newsom emphasized in a press statement. “We will continue our ongoing work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to call home.”

State officials reiterated that encampment clearances will be paired with referrals to services, offering impacted individuals immediate pathways to shelter, rehabilitation, and recovery—not just displacement.

While California continues to face a significant housing shortage, recent data suggest the state is outperforming national trends in curbing unsheltered homelessness growth. The SAFE Task Force builds on that momentum by combining enforcement with service-based outreach.