Anti-Homeless Law in Norwalk, California
Background
Along the concrete bed of the San Gabriel River in southeastern Los Angeles, Sean Diaz recalled one of his worst nights in his many years of homelessness. He’d found an abandoned building to sleep in and didn’t realize another person had already claimed the spot. Diaz said he awoke to a baseball bat bashing his head, causing wounds that required 10 stitches to heal. Had there been space in a shelter that night, Diaz said, he might not have gotten hurt.
The Law
That’s why Diaz was astonished to learn that Norwalk, the city where he was born and raised, had banned new homeless shelters and supportive housing developments. "You’d think they’d want to open more," said Diaz, 36, on a recent afternoon as he walked past riverbed encampments under the 105 Freeway. "That would keep us off the streets."
In August, the Norwalk City Council approved one of California’s most drastic anti-homeless laws in recent memory. The law not only prohibits the construction of shelters and homeless housing but also blocks new laundromats, liquor stores, payday lenders, and other businesses that predominantly serve the poor.
Community Reaction
Newsom accused Norwalk of violating housing state laws, the latest in a succession of communities in the governor’s crosshairs in recent years. But Norwalk stands out from the places like Beverly Hills, Coronado, Huntington Beach, and La Cañada Flintridge that Newsom has said have failed to do their part to address California’s housing problems.
Norwalk is not a white, wealthy enclave, but rather a Latino-majority, working- and middle-class community. Elected leaders in the city of 100,000 said they feel like Norwalk has been treated as a dumping ground, forcing officials to dig deep into the budget to deal with an influx of homeless residents and broken promises from other agencies.
Councilmember’s Perspective
"Why is always Norwalk the pinpoint for these programs?" asked Councilmember Rick Ramirez. "Where’s the assistance from the other surrounding cities? We’ve decided to stand up for ourselves."
Impact of the Law
Norwalk’s law has already had an impact. County officials canceled a hotel leasing effort that aimed to shelter 80 people living along the 105 Freeway and elsewhere on city streets. Newsom’s administration revoked state approval for the city’s housing development blueprint, making Norwalk ineligible for some affordable housing dollars.
A lawsuit against Norwalk is forthcoming, the governor warned.
Viewpoints
"It’s beyond cruel that Norwalk would ban the building of shelters while people are living on the city’s streets," Newsom said. "This crisis is urgent, and we can’t afford to stand by as communities turn their backs on those in need."
Norwalk is one of the Gateway Cities, inner-ring suburbs on the southeastern L.A.-Orange County border that rapidly turned from white working-class to majority Latino in the 1980s as the region’s demographics shifted. Some communities, such as Bell Gardens and Maywood, became some of the poorest and most overcrowded in the nation.
Conclusion
The dispute over Norwalk’s anti-shelter ordinance is not the only homelessness issue under negotiation with state leaders. The California Assembly has passed a measure aimed at making it easier to construct homeless shelters and supportive housing, and the state has pledged to spend $1 billion on affordable housing over the next four years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of Norwalk’s anti-homeless law?
A: The law prohibits the construction of new homeless shelters and supportive housing developments.
Q: What is the impact of the law?
A: The law has canceled a hotel leasing effort and made Norwalk ineligible for some affordable housing dollars, among other effects.
Q: What is the response from state leaders?
A: Newsom has accused Norwalk of violating housing state laws and warned of a lawsuit.
Q: What is the perspective of Norwalk leaders?
A: Councilmember Rick Ramirez said the city is treated as a dumping ground and feels it is time to take a stand against state and county agencies.
