Newsom called homelessness California’s calling in 2020. His budget still spends less than 0.5% on it

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared homelessness the state's 'calling' in 2020, but state spending on homelessness programs remains under 0.5% of the general fund, unchanged since 2020. Despite public demand for action, including 58% of voters prioritizing government improvement in 2025, homelessness spending peaked at 2.1% of the budget during the pandemic but has since fallen to 0.47% in 2026.