@marisakendall.bsky.social
Homelessness reporter for @CalMatters.org
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 signs law expanding one of his marquee mental health programs. Will it help more people?
Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court has helped fewer mentally ill people than he projected. He just signed a new law that will make more people eligible for it.
tinyurl.com
October 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
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
Newsom vetoes bill for sober homeless housing
The bill by a San Francisco Democrat would have allowed some state-funded homeless housing projects to require sobriety.
tinyurl.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
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
Reposted
"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...
calmatters.org/justice/2025...
Supreme Court allows immigration agents to resume indiscriminate sweeps in LA, siding with Trump
The Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Los Angeles, overturning a ruling that forbade agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
calmatters.org
September 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
"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...
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
Now, some people parked on the streets are wondering where they can go. @calmatters.org tinyurl.com/5fwws9mm
New enforcement efforts target people living in cars, RVs on California streets
Cities are ramping up efforts to ticket and tow vehicles that shelter homeless Californians.
tinyurl.com
September 3, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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
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
We asked for data from every county in California. Here's what we found @calmatters.org
tinyurl.com/bddh39c7
Newsom promised real progress on mental health with CARE Court. Here's what the numbers show
Far fewer people are using Gov. Gavin Newsom's CARE Court than he projected when he launched the mental health program to help homeless Californians.
tinyurl.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
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
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
tinyurl.com/35w4f7mf
July 14, 2025 at 10:13 PM
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
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
cal.news/4knbJor
Donate to 2025 Anniversary Drive
Keeping the public informed and the powerful in check for 10 years. Safeguard independent news for California’s future. https://giving.classy.org/campaign/696431/donate?c_src=social&c_src2=share
cal.news
July 7, 2025 at 8:53 PM
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
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
Here are their stories tinyurl.com/2bwhwzkj
They were repeatedly ticketed because of their homelessness. What did it change?
In Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego, homeless Californians describe their experiences as camping ban enforcement has increased.
tinyurl.com
June 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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
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
Homelessness is top of mind for many Californians. Why does the proposed budget eliminate funding for it?
California’s main source of homelessness funding would drop from $1 billion last year to $0 this year in the proposed state budget.
tinyurl.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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
Hope it's helpful! tinyurl.com/mr3y9t54
When homelessness rises, so do the stakes of getting the story right - Poynter
This new guide helps journalists navigate the ethical and human challenges of reporting on homelessness
tinyurl.com
June 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
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
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
Meta promised $1 billion for affordable housing. Then it quietly walked away
The pledge has been whittled down significantly as the Silicon Valley tech company has faced layoffs and shifting priorities.
tinyurl.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
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)
Check out my story for more details on San Diego's latest homeless census and charts by @jakobmcwhinney.bsky.social breaking down the numbers in cities throughout the county, including the city of San Diego which saw a 13.5 percent decrease.
Annual Census: Homelessness Down 7% Countywide
For the first time since 2020, the region’s annual census shows a year-over-year decline in homelessness across San Diego County. The Regional Task Force on Homelessness, which oversees the annual [...
voiceofsandiego.org
May 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
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
tinyurl.com/5fxd56mp
LA is blowing up its homelessness agency and starting over. Here's why
After scathing audits criticizing Los Angeles’ county-city homeless authority, the county is blowing up that joint agency and starting over.
tinyurl.com
May 20, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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
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
via @jeannereporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/pzvzv3w5
Money promised to “save” local news vanishes as California proposes deep cuts
Lawmakers struck a handshake deal with Google last year to pay local news outlets in exchange for less regulation. Now, the budget deficit could prompt the tech giant to pull back.
tinyurl.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
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
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
May 14, 2025 at 6:50 PM
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
Newsom wants cities to force homeless Californians to move camp every 3 days
In his latest push to crackdown on encampments, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants cities to make homeless Californians move every three days.
tinyurl.com
May 12, 2025 at 6:52 PM
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
'Millions out on the street virtually overnight': How Trump's budget proposal could affect California
President Donald Trump's budget proposal in its present form would have huge effects on housing and homelessness in California.
tinyurl.com
May 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
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
But that was just the beginning...
tinyurl.com/yhj4426s
Her homeless sister vanished. Six years later, she turned up in a news story
After reading a CalMatters article, two people were able to reconnect with their homeless relatives. Here’s what happened next.
tinyurl.com
May 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
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
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
Trump is taking Medicaid 'back to basics.' How California's Medi-Cal may change
In recent weeks, federal officials have signaled that support for creative uses of Medi-Cal funding is waning, particularly uses that California has invested in such as rent assistance and medically t...
tinyurl.com
April 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
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
Reposted
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.org/newsletter/r...
CA tenants, landlords, Democrats all fight over rent caps
An effort to lower and make permanent rent caps in California went through its latest legislative hurdle on Thursday.
calmatters.org
April 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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.org/newsletter/r...
Reposted
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
April 21, 2025 at 9:15 PM
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
tinyurl.com/79jk3kvu
A new program trains college students for jobs helping homeless Californians. Can it survive?
Santa Monica College started the first community college program to train people for jobs in homeless services. But can it last?
tinyurl.com
April 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
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
tinyurl.com/79jk3kvu