Homeless advocates in the South Bay are speaking out against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s demand to cities to sweep encampments.
The governor threatened to pull funding from cities and counties that don’t do their part to clean up encampments. But advocates and those who are unhoused said Newsom’s policy is dangerous and could lead to deaths.
“Sweeps equal death. Sweeps equal mass incarceration,” claimed Raymond Goins, who is unhoused.
Goins spent 18 years in prison for a robbery. Now that he’s out, he said many employers and landlords refuse to give him a chance.
“The median rent is $3,500. As someone who’s an ex-felon, I can’t get a job to afford that rent. I applied for Lyft and Lyft told me I couldn’t be a driver because of my felonies,” said Goins.
Goins said he’s been sleeping in his car for the last two months.
“Sleeping in a car is demoralizing,” said Goins. “It’s like I’m back in prison all over again because my car is the same size as my jail cell.”