Gavin has some explaining to do.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing renewed criticism after announcing plans to spend another $291 million in taxpayer money on a controversial homelessness program that critics say has produced very few real results.
The funding will go toward CARE Court, a statewide program designed to help individuals suffering from severe mental illness who often cycle between homelessness, jail, and emergency services.
When Newsom launched the program in 2022, he called it a “paradigm shift” in how California would address its growing homelessness crisis.
But several years later, the numbers tell a very different story.
CARE Court Program Under Fire
CARE Court — short for Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Court — was created to allow family members, first responders, and local officials to ask courts to order individuals into mental health treatment.
The goal was to help people who repeatedly fall through the cracks of California’s mental health system.
At the time the program was introduced, Newsom predicted that 7,000 to 12,000 Californians would qualify for CARE Court assistance.
However, according to court data, only about 3,800 petitions have been filed across the entire state.
Even more concerning, many of those petitions have reportedly been rejected by courts, particularly in major urban areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Millions Spent — Few Results
The limited participation numbers have raised serious concerns about whether the program is worth the enormous cost.
So far, California taxpayers have already spent over $300 million on CARE Court.
An investigation by CalMatters found that the program has produced very few enforceable outcomes.
As of October 2025:
- Only 684 voluntary treatment agreements had been reached
- Just 22 court-ordered treatment plans had been issued statewide
Critics say those results fall far short of what state leaders promised when the program launched.
For many observers, the program has become another example of massive government spending with little impact on California’s worsening homelessness crisis.
Newsom Blames Local Counties
Despite the criticism, Newsom defended the program during Monday’s funding announcement and suggested that local governments are partly responsible for the slow progress.
The governor placed ten counties on what his administration called an “Improvement List,” including Santa Clara County and San Francisco.
“Through the CARE Court program, there have been encouraging examples of people beginning the path to recovery, but several counties are still falling behind others in implementing the effort,” Newsom said in a statement.
“Local officials have both an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure this program is properly implemented to help those who need it most.”
Local Officials Push Back
Local leaders quickly responded to the governor’s comments, arguing that the issue is far more complicated than Newsom suggested.
Santa Clara County Executive James R. Williams said the county is focusing on strategies that actually work rather than relying on expensive legal processes.
“Our strategy focuses on solutions that have proven effective, instead of automatically relying on long, expensive, and frequently ineffective court procedures,” Williams said.
Meanwhile, officials in San Francisco said the city is already aggressively tackling homelessness.
A spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the city is using “every tool in our toolbox” to connect people to shelter and treatment services.
Political Pressure Building In California
The controversy arrives at a politically sensitive moment for Newsom as California prepares for its next gubernatorial election.
Because of term limits, Newsom will not be able to run again, and the race to replace him is already attracting national attention.
Recent polling shows a competitive field forming.
According to a recent survey of likely voters:
- Steve Hilton, former Fox News host, leads with 14% support
- Former Rep. Katie Porter follows with 13%
- Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco sits at 12%
Meanwhile, Democratic support appears to be split among several candidates, including:
- Rep. Eric Swalwell
- Billionaire activist Tom Steyer
- Former Attorney General Xavier Becerra
- San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
Because California uses a “top-two” primary system, some political analysts believe it is possible that two Republicans could advance to the final election, which would be a major shake-up in the heavily Democratic state.
Newsom Downplays Election Talk
When asked about the upcoming race, Newsom insisted that he has not been closely watching the contest.
“It’s been hard to focus on that race,” the governor said during a press conference in Hayward.
“I honestly haven’t taken a look, nor do I think the public has.”
Instead, Newsom said Californians appear more focused on major issues such as energy supply, homelessness, and national political developments.
Still, with hundreds of millions already spent and little progress reported, the CARE Court program is likely to remain a major topic of debate as voters evaluate the future of leadership in California.