California has spent nearly $4 billion on Homekey -- one of Gov. Newsom's signature programs to build homeless housing. It was drastically different than any other housing program, and no one had done an in-depth, statewide analysis to see if it worked. So we did @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/3e6p5d4k

Homelessness will be one of the most important issues California's next governor faces. We asked the candidates tough questions about how they'd respond to people on the street if elected. Read about and watch those interviews here: tinyurl.com/bddztskt

Not sure which of the 1,000 candidates for California governor to vote for next month? Check out the new CalMatters voter guide! (It's got really helpful info. on all the other races, too). tinyurl.com/yke5p4ps

Happy Local News Day! Consider supporting our reporting on what matters to Californians by donating to CalMatters tinyurl.com/y2fvjan8

Why fight homelessness when you can prevent it instead? Turns out that by giving certain people a few thousand dollars, you can pretty effectively keep them from ending up on the streets. New efforts are underway to take that strategy statewide, and nationwide. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/2pfrhxxp

10 projects funded by Gov. Newsom's mental health ballot measure were expected to open last year. So far, none of them have. The delays show just how hard it is to scale up badly needed mental health services, and how hard it is to build anything in California. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/64jvcba8

Gov. Newsom today called counties out for what he says is a lackluster performance on CARE Court: “I’m happy to redirect every damn penny in these programs to the counties that are getting things done, period, full stop...Don’t make any more excuses.” @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/32cmeera

A California company is using AI to help diagnose and treat homeless Californians. They say the technology will help more people get the medical care they desperately need. But critics say this unproven tech shouldn't be tested on vulnerable unhoused communities. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/bdd3kk2t

When Gov. Gavin Newsom launched his signature mental health court, it was supposed to help get some of the most vulnerable homeless Californians off the street. But two years into the program, people are still falling through the cracks. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/376ycf5w

Honored to go to D.C. last month to accept the @homelesslaw.bsky.social Stewart B. McKinney award on behalf of @calmatters.org for our reporting on homelessness!

Our year-end drive starts this week! I love working for @calmatters.org to bring you deep, thoughtful reporting about how California's policies affect the people living on our streets. And I think this work matters. If you think so too, please give: cal.news/3XPXn7f

Gov. Newsom signed legislation today that will expand CARE Court, his signature mental health program. So far, the program is helping far fewer people than expected. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/2sb7vwph

Newsom vetoed a bill that would have allowed California cities and counties to spend up to 10% of their state funding on homeless housing programs that require participants to be sober. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/2w7kytvk

"The ruling...means officers can rely on little more than a person being in the parking lot of a Home Depot and speaking Spanish to question someone about their immigration status." calmatters.org/justice/2025...

All over California, cities are ramping up efforts to ticket and tow cars and RVs that double as people's homes -- the latest effort to crack down on street homelessness. Now, some people parked on the streets are wondering where they can go. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/5fwws9mm

CARE Court made big promises to get the sickest Californians off the street. But nearly two years after it rolled out in the first counties, it's helping far fewer people than anticipated We asked for data from every county in California. Here's what we found @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/bddh39c7

New homeless point in time count numbers are out today. They show a decrease in the number of people living on the street, without shelter, in LA and San Jose. Both cities have launched aggressive campaigns to clear encampments and put people in shelter. tinyurl.com/45czm83r tinyurl.com/35w4f7mf

For 10 years, @calmatters.org has brought you all of the important news and accountability reporting from California. Please support us by donating today! Your donation will be matched dollar for dollar. cal.news/4knbJor

On the 1 year anniversary of the Grants Pass Supreme Court ruling, we wanted to see how increased policing has changed life for homeless Californians. So we tracked down a few people who have been punished for camping over and over. @calmatters.org Here are their stories tinyurl.com/2bwhwzkj

California's homelessness crisis is often listed as a top priority for everyone from Gov. Newsom to lawmakers to voters. But the budget currently on the table eliminates the main funding source for programs that help get people off the street and into housing. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/4cz7pz6j

I and several other reporters on the beat have spent the past few months putting together a resource guide for journalists covering homelessness. It touches on everything from the ethical dilemmas to the logistical challenges that come up when doing this work Hope it's helpful! tinyurl.com/mr3y9t54

Interesting look by Kate Talerico at how Meta turned away from its promise to fund Bay Area housing. tinyurl.com/4jjwz3ex

San Diego's homeless count numbers are out today...the city saw a nearly 14% drop, according to the January Point in Time Count. (As a reminder -- those numbers are always an estimate, not an exact science)

When LA County voted to blow up its homelessness strategy, LA's mayor was not happy. That type of tension between cities and counties is all too common in California these days. And it has a real impact on real unhoused people. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/5fxd56mp

A controversial $125 million deal California struck with Google last year to prop up the state’s struggling journalism industry is already on track to shrink — before any of the money has been delivered to news outlets. via @jeannereporter.bsky.social tinyurl.com/pzvzv3w5

Today's revised California budget proposal doesn't include the homelessness funds local leaders are clamoring for. But it does include more talk of accountability measures for existing funding. “The obstacle (to clearing encampments) remains at the local level." -- @gavinnewsom.bsky.social

As part of ongoing crackdown against homeless encampments, @governor.ca.gov now wants cities to make certain camps illegal -- including those that have been up more than three days. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/u2wanpm2

Here's a look at what the Trump administration's proposed cuts to housing and homelessness funds could look like in California. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/5psade35

A few weeks ago, I got emails from two people who saw their homeless family members -- who they hadn't heard from in years -- quoted in one of my @calmatters.org stories. Thanks to several lucky breaks, I was able to reunite them. But that was just the beginning... tinyurl.com/yhj4426s

California's homeless service providers have come to rely on Medi-Cal funds -- and now they're worried that money will go away. Kristen Hwang has the latest: tinyurl.com/2kbsureb

Still mad at my editor that he wouldn't let me title today's newsletter item "Rent Cap 2: Capped with a Vengeance" but anyway calmatters.org/newsletter/r...

CalMatters connects the dots on how state & federal decisions impact your life — from housing to climate. We're nonpartisan, independent & people-powered. Our Spring Member Drive is on and gifts are matched $ for $. Please give today → buff.ly/ZpUxFyb

California needs more people working in homeless services. This new community college program was supposed to help, by training people to make a difference. But it might not have enough funding to last. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/79jk3kvu