Homelessness: You Will Be Made to Care, Comrade

It would be quite a stretch for me to live in Beverly Hills, but, if a proposal becomes law, all I would have to do is pitch a tent in the 90210 zip code. Cities would be required to shelter the homeless, according to a recommendation by the governor’s Regional Council of Homeless Advisors. [bold added]

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg told The Chronicle, “We are calling for a legally enforceable mandate requiring governments to bring people home. No more of this being an option. ... When it really matters, we require it. Why should this be any different?”

The Chronicle editorial board supports forcing cities to provide housing (and other services).

by making housing a right instead of the luxury it’s become for an unconscionable number of Californians, the task force’s proposal would constitute a dramatic shift in the right direction....

The trouble is that, as San Francisco’s experience attests, spending large new sums of money on homelessness and housing has not been as consistently effective as it is politically expedient in a liberal state. Making the provision of sufficient housing and shelter obligatory is what’s missing.

California must exist in an alternate reality. The rest of the country is reducing homelessness , but it has increased in California to such an extent that the national totals are rising. California is spending $billions--as are other States--and outside of California it's working.

Rather than look at why we're so ineffective, California politicians and the Chronicle are saying that we're not trying hard enough, so we'll get the law to force you to try harder.

Compassion is not optional. You will be made to care, comrade.