California has filed a lawsuit against the city of Norwalk, a Los Angeles suburb, for enacting a moratorium on homeless shelters and temporary housing that the state claims violates fair housing and anti-discrimination laws. Governor Gavin Newsom has been pushing back against local resistance to state housing laws in the face of the state’s homelessness crisis. Norwalk, with a population of 100,000, is the latest city to face legal action from the state over housing policies after extending its ban on new homeless shelters and emergency housing. The city council cited public safety concerns from previous state programs, such as placing homeless people in motel rooms, as justification for the moratorium.
The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuses the city of Norwalk of violating multiple housing laws and seeks to halt the moratorium. Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the state will hold local governments accountable if they refuse to address the lack of affordable and accessible housing. Governor Newsom publicly criticized Norwalk and urged local officials to reconsider the policy, warning of potential legal action and revoking the city’s housing plan. Despite meetings with state officials, the city council has not reversed the ban, prompting the state to file the lawsuit.
California has been ramping up enforcement of state housing laws, suing cities that reject affordable housing projects and homes for homeless people. Newsom signed a package of 32 housing bills to make it easier for the state to take action against cities that defy housing laws. The conflict between the state and local governments over housing projects and construction speed is likely to escalate as California faces a significant housing shortage. The state needs to build 2.5 million homes by 2030 but only averages about 100,000 new homes per year, with a limited number being affordable units.
Governor Newsom has made housing and homelessness a top priority during his leadership, investing billions of dollars in affordable housing and homelessness solutions. He has pressured local governments to address encampments and challenged them to increase housing production, threatening to withhold state funding if results are not seen. The ongoing conflict between the state and local governments highlights the challenges in meeting California’s housing needs. As the lawsuit against Norwalk unfolds, it underscores the broader issue of ensuring access to affordable housing for all residents in the state.
