Mitigating the Health Impacts of Encampment Sweeps in California

Street sweeps – also known as “encampment resolutions,” “encampment clearings,” or
“displacements” – are increasingly common across the United States. These actions involve the forced removal of unsheltered individuals and their belongings from public spaces, often on the grounds of public health, public safety, or improving the aesthetic appearance of an area.1 In California, the legal and policy landscape surrounding street
sweeps shifted significantly in the summer of 2024, following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Johnson v. Grants Pass and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-1-24. These developments have contributed to more aggressive enforcement of anti-camping ordinances and heightened sweeps activity, creating new challenges for people
experiencing homelessness and those who support them.

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