California Governor Gavin Newsom has been caught red-handed with misleading claims about his state’s devastating homelessness crisis.
Newsom boldly claimed on social media that California had “dramatically slowed and reduced” the growth of homelessness on Friday.
He even boasted that he had made “more progress than most other states.”
“California has dramatically slowed and reduced the growth of homelessness – and is making more progress than most other states, the nation as a whole, and previous administrations,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“We continue to lead the way in getting people off the streets and into contact with healthcare,” the post continued.
But the governor’s claims were immediately dismissed as official figures paint a very different picture of the crisis in California.
“Gavin Newsom’s post is completely misleading,” reads a correction on X.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been caught red-handed with misleading claims about his state’s devastating homelessness crisis
Newsom boldly claimed on social media that California had “dramatically slowed and reduced” the growth of homelessness on Friday
“Homelessness in California is not declining, it is growing year over year.”
The correction explains that California has spent about $24 billion on homelessness since 2019, but homelessness increased by about 30,000 to more than 181,000 during this five-year period.
The news comes as shocking new data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals California’s position as the worst state in America for homelessness, with numbers that dwarf other states.
While California struggles with 187,084 homeless people, New York follows with 158,019, then Washington with 31,554 and Florida with 31,362.
The governor’s claims sparked outrage online.
“Newsom gets destroyed every time he comes here and tries to lie,” one social media user commented.
Another user slammed the post, writing, “Newsflash, ‘Governor’: CA’s ‘dramatic’ reduction in homelessness? There are still 171,521 homeless people living there, an increase of 2% compared to last year. Hardly a win. Come up with small solutions to a huge crisis and call it progress? Please. Try again, Gavin.”
The report comes as shocking new data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals California’s position as the worst state in America for homelessness, with figures that dwarf other states
Another user slammed the governor for his recent purchase of a $9 million home.
“What’s up with that $9 million house? You could press a few, but you’re all talking,” they wrote.
Last month, Newsom and his wife moved their family to an exclusive part of the state where all four of his children are now enrolled in Marin County schools.
The Democrat, touted as a possible future presidential candidate, will keep his $3.7 million six-bedroom Fair Oaks property in suburban Sacramento, where he will stay with wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom several nights of the week.
But he will move his children 90 miles away to a $9.1 million home in Kentfield, Marin County, where his eldest child Montana has just enrolled in high school at the Branson School – with tuition up to $60,000 a year.
The deal for the new 5,600-square-foot mansion closed and Newsom paid 7 percent more than the asking price for the mansion that sits on less than an acre of land.
The six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom property, complete with a guesthouse for visitors, features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Mount Tamalpais.
Newsom has been criticized for his post, especially since it comes after he bought this $9.1 million home in Kentfield, Marin County, where his eldest child just started high school
Outside, there’s a pool and spa with sculptures lining a backyard with a roaring fire pit. Inside, the bedrooms have a handful of walk-in closets.
A spokesperson for Newsom stated at the time: “The family continues to divide their time between Sacramento and Marin counties.
“The family’s children are moving on to middle school, also high school. “The governor and the first partner want to create continuity in education for their children, recognizing that the governor’s term ends in January 2027.”