California Governor Gavin Newsom faces scrutiny over his recent social media statements about the state's homeless crisis.
According to Daily Mail, Newsom's claims about reducing homelessness growth were contradicted by official Department of Housing and Urban Development data showing California leads the nation with 187,084 homeless individuals.
The controversy erupted after Newsom posted on X (formerly Twitter) that California had "dramatically slowed and reduced" homelessness growth and was outperforming other states in addressing the crisis. His post also claimed the state was making more progress than previous administrations in getting people off the streets and connecting them to care.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's figures paint a drastically different picture from Newsom's assertions. California's homeless population significantly exceeds other states, with New York following at 158,019 homeless individuals. Washington and Florida trail far behind with 31,554 and 31,362 homeless people, respectively.
Social media users quickly challenged Newsom's statements, pointing out that despite spending approximately $24 billion on homelessness since 2019, the state has seen an increase of about 30,000 homeless individuals during this period. The total homeless population now stands at more than 181,000.
One social media user stated on X: "Newsom is getting destroyed every time he comes on here and tries to lie."
The homelessness controversy coincides with news of Newsom's recent personal real estate purchase. The governor and his wife recently acquired a $9.1 million mansion in Kentfield, Marin County, where they plan to relocate their family.
The 5,600-square-foot property, which features six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms, has drawn criticism in light of the ongoing homeless crisis. The purchase price was 7 percent above the asking price for the mansion, which sits on less than an acre of land.
Critics have pointed to the contrast between Newsom's luxury home purchase and the state's persistent homeless crisis. One social media user commented: "How's that 9 million dollar home? You could squeeze in a few, but you're all talk."
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's data underscores the severity of California's homeless situation compared to other states. While California grapples with nearly 187,084 homeless individuals, even large states like Florida maintain significantly lower numbers.
Despite Newsom's claims of progress, the statistics show an increase of approximately 30,000 homeless individuals over the past five years, despite the state's substantial $24 billion investment in addressing the crisis. This represents a roughly 2% increase from the previous year.
Governor Gavin Newsom's recent statements about California's progress in addressing homelessness have been contradicted by official Department of Housing and Urban Development data. The figures show California leading the nation with 187,084 homeless individuals, significantly higher than other states.
The controversy has intensified amid news of Newsom's $9.1 million home purchase in Marin County, highlighting the contrast between his personal circumstances and the state's persistent homeless crisis. Despite a $24 billion investment since 2019, California's homeless population has increased by approximately 30,000, raising questions about the effectiveness of current policies and the accuracy of the governor's public statements.
