California Governor Gavin Newsom expands city partnerships to clean highway homeless encampments

Governor Gavin Newsom announced new Encampment Delegated Maintenance Agreements with the cities of Ontario, San Bernardino and San Diego, raising California’s total of city partnerships for highway encampment clean‑up to 13. Under the agreements the state reimburses local agencies that work with the California Department of Transportation to remove homeless encampments from state right‑of‑way, provided they follow state policies and reporting requirements. The three new deals build on ten earlier agreements and are part of Newsom’s broader strategy to address homelessness with historic state investment, stronger accountability, expanded behavioral‑health services, and increased permanent housing options. California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said the collaborations “strengthen California’s solutions to more effectively and compassionately address encampments.”