Local Approaches to Homeless Encampments Vary Across California

Roberta Titus sits outside a juice shop on Front Street in Santa Cruz on August 7, 2024. Photo by Manuel Orbegozo for CalMatters

As California cities and counties become more aggressive with banning public camping, the need for consistent and clear encampment policies become more pressing. But local governments employ a patchwork of rules for encampment sweeps — exposing a vulnerable population to even more harm.

CalMatters asked nearly three dozen cities and counties for copies of their encampment management policies, and found that their approaches varied widely:

• San Diego has a 10-page policy detailing things such as when sweeps can take place and how to handle confiscated belongings.

  
  

• Stockton uses policies from its police department, which vaguely says officers should “use reasonable care” and avoid destroying an unhoused person’s property.

  
  

• Santa Cruz and Monterey counties are just now writing their first encampment policies, after Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed for more uniform rules in May.

  
  

• Mendocino County has no encampment policy.

  
  

So why is it important that these rules be more cohesive?

Read "Local Approaches to Homeless Encampments Vary Across California" for the full story.

By Marisa Kendall | August 21, 2025 | CalMatters

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