Where will we go after the removal of the so-called “ dangerous encampments”?

By Alexander De Leon

Governor Gavin Newsom, a man in charge of millions of lives, using evil words that minimize the lives of those who suffer daily in the streets. “Dangerous encampments” words said by Newsom, words that hurt my mind and soul. As a formerly homeless person I was taken aback by the new state order given by Newsom.

On Thursday July 25th, 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a brutal and horrifying order to California state officials. He ordered state officials to begin an urgent removal of homeless encampments, stating “There are simply no more excuses. It’s time for everyone to do their part,” telling state agencies to “adopt humane and dignified policies” and “move urgently to address dangerous encampments while supporting and assisting the individuals living in them.” 

After hearing these statements made by the man in charge of my state I relived the fear I felt as a child when being in the streets. Remembering how alone with my mother, we slept in staircases, benches, we were cold and hungry. I remember seeing my mother crying alone with me in her arms acting strong like everything was ok everytime I asked her what was wrong. The fear of being outside and that there isn't a place you can call home, all of this brought back by the evil words of this man. The questions of where am I going to go? Where am I going to sleep? When am I going to be under a roof?, came flooding back, filling my mind with new questions. I asked myself, where exactly does Newsom plan on “clearing” all of these people he's planning on sweeping away? 

Stating that the homeless encampments are dangerous increase hatred and fear towards those who live in the streets. This new order leaves many questioning where exactly Newsom plans on taking the people of these homeless encampments to. He had already withheld money last year from state homelessness funding, because of local governments’ “unacceptable” plans to reduce homelessness by 2% by 2024. Local governments stated that it was unfair for Newsom to take away this funding since it was because of a lack of overarching vision or structure for combatting homelessness from the state that led to a small decrease in homelessness that year. 

“... I just wanted to say that the problem isn't the homeless, it's not even the lack of resources that we have outhere, the problem is the capitalist society and that money equals the value of a person,...” said LeaJay Harper formerly unhoused on Wood Street Oakland, now housed at Homefulness in East Oakland. Here LeaJay expresses the reality of a capitalist society and how the amount of money in someone's possession sadly represents how that person is valued in society. She said that there isn't really a lack of resources, which is true, in San Francisco alone there are thousands of empty units that could be used to shelter and provide a home for those out in the streets, just as district 5 supervisor Deann Preston said “tens of thousands of units tonight in San Francisco will sit empty while people sleep in the street.”

Once again, homelessness is not a choice, it is a result of greed and desire for more and more money. It is the product of high rent prices that make it very difficult for many to afford. It is inhumane to have people in the streets to begin with but it’s more inhumane and cruel to sweep them off the streets, to arrest them simply because they cant afford a place to sleep, to treat them like trash. As a person who once lived in the streets I understand the fear and struggle of being homeless, and because of the help of my aunt Tiny, Poor Magazine and everyone else who helped my mother I to get back on our feet, I can now stand and help my fellow brothers and sisters fight back the evil of capitalism.