Governor Signs Bills Providing New Local Tools to Address Homelessness
Sacramento, CA – Yesterday, building on California’s momentum of reducing unsheltered homelessness, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Senate Bills 479 and 692, both authored by State Senator Jesse Arreguin (D-Oakland). Together, these bills will provide local governments with new tools to address the impacts of unsheltered homelessness. SB 479 will allow cities to launch new multidisciplinary outreach teams to coordinate services and housing for the homeless. SB 692 will make it easier for cities and counties to remove hazardous abandoned RVs and vehicles.
“As a former mayor, I know firsthand the challenges communities face in working to reduce unsheltered homelessness. While the state has stepped up in providing funding, local governments need tools to effectively coordinate services and get people off the street,” said Senator Jesse Arreguín, Chair of the Senate Housing Committee. “SB 479 and SB 692 empower cities with the tools they need to continue this progress through better coordination and expedited response.”
In recent years, California has successfully helped thousands of people get off the streets into stable housing. In 2025, funding from the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention, Homekey+, and Encampment Resolution Funding program helped reduce the state’s unsheltered population by 9%. The state’s progress in reducing homelessness comes at a time when homelessness is on the rise nationwide.
One consequence of this progress is that vehicles previously used for habitation are left behind, often in conditions that make them impossible to tow. SB 692 will allow for local jurisdictions to dismantle a vehicle that has been declared a nuisance or hazard, while including due process such as notification of abatement to registered owners and opportunities for administrative hearings. A multidisciplinary approach to homelessness is a proven best practice. This involves pairing housing with other wraparound services, such as mental health care and substance abuse treatment.
Multidisciplinary teams are an effective way to do direct outreach to people experiencing homelessness and coordinate a whole-person care approach. Currently, state law only allows counties to run multidisciplinary homeless response teams, despite a need for cities to use this emerging model. SB 479 would allow three local health jurisdictions - Berkeley, Long Beach and Pasadena- to run multidisciplinary teams to better share information and coordinate services for people living in encampments.
“We’ve learned that helping someone move off the street takes consistent outreach, mental health care, coordinated services and, ultimately, a path to long-term, stable housing," said Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii. "These bills help us do that work more effectively while also giving cities better ways to address the challenges that remain after an encampment is cleared. I’m grateful to Senator Arreguín for bringing his experience as Berkeley’s former mayor to Sacramento and continuing to champion solutions for cities across California.”
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