Throughout my career as a journalist, one issue has remained a constant source of frustration and despair – the plight of California’s homeless population. Since 1980, I have covered the evolving landscape of homelessness in the state, witnessing firsthand the shifting dynamics and underlying causes of this crisis. From the early days of reporting on “public inebriates” in Sacramento to the tent cities that now line the rivers, I have seen how this issue has grown exponentially over the years.

In my early years of reporting, the term “homeless” was rarely used, and the focus was on individuals living in flophouse hotels or makeshift shelters in the woods. As the years passed, the recession of the 1980s brought a new wave of homelessness, with job losses pushing more people into the streets. By 1985, I co-authored one of the first books on contemporary homelessness, shedding light on the systemic issues that contributed to this crisis.

Fast forward to the present day, and the tent cities that now line California’s rivers are a stark reminder of how far we have strayed from addressing this issue effectively. The recent federally mandated survey found over 5,000 unsheltered homeless people in Sacramento alone, painting a grim picture of the state of homelessness in California.

Reflecting on my decades of reporting on this issue, I have come to realize that the roots of our current struggles with homelessness can be traced back to the 1980s. Issues such as police brutality, sexual violence, and lack of meaningful gun control measures were present then and have only worsened over the years. Additionally, the lack of pro-housing policies has led to the proliferation of tent cities and makeshift shelters, exacerbating the crisis.

One of the most troubling realizations I have had is the role that both conservatives and so-called “good liberals” have played in perpetuating this crisis. While conservatives have often been blamed for abandoning the poor, I have also witnessed how self-proclaimed liberals have contributed to the problem. The rise of NIMBYism among baby boomers, coupled with a lack of affordable housing policies, has created a situation where homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many.

Efforts to address this crisis, such as the housing bills passed by the California Legislature, have been a step in the right direction but fall short of addressing the root causes of homelessness. Politicians must be more aggressive in challenging local zoning laws and pushing for more housing-friendly policies to create real change.

As I look ahead to the future, I remain hopeful that meaningful change is possible. By addressing the systemic issues that have led to the homelessness crisis in California and beyond, we can work towards creating a more equitable society where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing. It is my hope that my reporting over the years has helped shed light on this issue and inspired others to take action towards ending homelessness once and for all.