California’s fight against crime and homelessness is a warning to the nation

Ten years ago California voters pass Proposition 47 to downgrade hard drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, and then continued to pass crime-mitigation proposals aimed at reimagining the state’s criminal justice system. Since then, crime, drug use and homelessness have skyrocketed, driving businesses and good citizens out of the state, a trend that should serve as a stark warning to other states that follow California’s lead. Now Proposition 36, or the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, is on the California ballot to address these crises. As this proposal is about to be passed into law, we can’t help but wonder, “So what?”

Over the past decade, endless political promises, countless policy changes, and billions of taxpayer dollars have been thrown at California’s homeless population. drug and crime crises, and they only got worse. The Hoover Institution reports, “Since 2019, California has spent about $24 billion to combat homelessness, but over that five-year period the number of homeless people increased by about 30,000, to more than 181,000.” In keeping with the appalling national tradition, there was virtually no accountability for these expenses.

Meanwhile, Opioid-related deaths rise 121% between the beginning of 2019 and the end of 2021 and has continued to grow since then. Likewise, widespread theft, robbery and property crime have spiraled out of control. Unfortunately, simply passing Proposition 36 is not enough to solve these problems. Of course, this will give cities the opportunity to clean up their streets, but how will this happen when many previous plans have failed?

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I’ve walked the streets of California and talked to those at the center of these crises, and the harsh reality is that a free apartment to get them off the street and a counselor’s number is not what they want. And although this is done with the best intentions, it is not really what they need. Transition without transformation is useless.

Several businesses have sued the city of Berkeley, California, for failing to eliminate homeless encampments. (CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT, ALAMEDA COUNTY)

Instead of pouring many millions of taxpayer dollars into new housing developments and providing ineffective resources that are never used, the answer is a fairly common sense concept of creating what I call “base camps.” For a fraction of the cost, these large spaces will facilitate personal transformation to prepare people for a successful transition into a productive society, rather than throwing them unprepared into a new life they don’t want.

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In practice, these base camps will resemble a hybrid camp lifestyle that is more comfortable for those recovering from homelessness and drug addiction compared to isolation in a new apartment. They will continue to experience the sense of camaraderie and community that those living on the streets often enjoy.

Base Camp will also promote a sense of organization and self-improvement by providing a cafeteria, chapel, laundry facility and even classes to build resilience and teach life skills. Residents will have both the opportunity and the expectation to contribute to their base camp community by working in existing facilities and paying for it as mentors to others on their journey. These commitments will be especially meaningful for the many dedicated and experienced homeless veterans who will have a renewed sense of purpose. Leaving our veterans to die on the streets is a tragedy and a colossal waste.

Meanwhile, from the beginning of 2019 to the end of 2021, the number of opioid-related deaths skyrocketed by 121% and has continued to rise since then. Likewise, widespread theft, robbery and property crime have spiraled out of control. Unfortunately, simply passing Proposition 36 is not enough to solve these problems. Of course, this will give cities the opportunity to clean up their streets, but how will this happen when many previous plans have failed?

It’s easy for politicians to call it a housing crisis or a political issue because then the solution seems simple – build more houses or pass new proposals. But housing and politics are not the root of the problems, and passing new proposals is not a magic solution. We need greater investment to address the systemic problem that has destroyed the state of California and threatens to cripple the nation.

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Instead of yet another pay-and-pray plan with no accountability or success, we need a smart solution that is both cost-effective for the taxpayers who pay the bills and tailored to the real needs and reasonable capabilities of those we serve. Base camps may not be glamorous or politically lucrative, but the return on investment for our communities will be clean streets and, more importantly, rehabilitated people. Because essentially this is a crisis of humanity that could have been completely prevented in the first place.

California’s soft-on-crime and lenient drug policies have been proven failures. It is time for the state to adopt a smarter strategy that goes beyond simply passing Proposition 36. The homelessness crisis, rampant crime, and unchecked drug use are the result of these misguided and ineffective policies and a society that is too focused on quick and profitable fixes. What happened on the streets of California should be a warning to the rest of America – this path only leads to more chaos and destruction. We must heed this warning and get ahead of these crises before America becomes California.

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