California's ongoing struggle with homelessness has escalated into a legal showdown, as Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the city of Norwalk. The lawsuit, made public today, targets the city's prohibition on the establishment of new homeless shelters, claiming a breach of multiple state laws. The city's actions are being scrutinized after a series of warnings and the revocation of the city’s housing element compliance by the state. "The Norwalk city council’s failure to reverse this ban, despite knowing it is unlawful, is inexcusable. No community should turn its back on its residents in need," Governor Newsom proclaimed, as reported by gov.ca.gov.
Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the predictability of the state's legal action, given Norwalk's persistent defiance in repealing their restrictive ordinance. Watching homeless citizens grapple with the lack of resources, Bonta expressed frustration, stating, "Enough is enough," in a statement that underlines the city’s responsibility to address its homelessness crisis. "Every city and county in California has a legal obligation to help solve our homelessness crisis. We have not, and will not hesitate, to ensure that everyone with the power to approve or disapprove housing takes their duties seriously," Bonta explained.
Violation notices were sent to Norwalk by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on September 16, a day before the city council prolonged the moratorium for nearly a year. Officials pointed out that such bans conflict with the Housing Crisis Act, Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, and Housing Element Law. Despite advancing a 45-day urgency ordinance against emergency shelters and certain types of housing, Norwalk stands accused of failing to meet housing production goals mandated by state law. A mere 175 housing units have been permitted during the current housing cycle, equating to only 3.5% of the city's required 5,034 unit Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Following the continued presence of the ban, Norwalk's housing element was decertified by the state on October 3, consequently cutting off the city from significant housing funds and limiting its power to reject affordable housing projects, as documented by HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez.
The lawsuit arrives amid expectations set by an executive order from Governor Newsom, which called for local governments to use state funding to resolve unsanitary and unsafe homeless encampments by providing essential housing and services. "Norwalk’s moratorium on housing for its most vulnerable residents is not only unlawful — it is a rejection of people’s basic health, safety, and humanity," Velasquez added, highlighting the misalignment between the city's policies and the imperatives of human dignity. Since its inception, the Housing Accountability Unit, established by Newsom, has facilitated the development of over 7,600 housing units, which include more than 2,800 affordable units. The efforts continue to be amplified with the Unit's expansion in 2024, directed towards homelessness compliance and enforcement, an expansion detailed on gov.ca.gov.
