'Delusional' Gavin Newsom is roasted for claiming California is the 'national model' for tackling homelessness: 'Look around you buddy!'

California Governor Gavin Newsom has invited a wave of criticism and mockery after he claimed his state is the 'national model' for tackling homelessness. 

The Democrat, 56, made the remarks as he announced a $3.3 billion fund for California counties to tackle rampant homelessness, including a mental health initiative he pushed for. 

'The state of California saw a decline in veteran's homelessness,' he said on Tuesday. 'We have a national model.' 

Newsom appeared to be citing California's 30 percent drop in veteran homelessness over the past 12 years, despite a 2023 federal report finding that the state holds 28 percent of the nation's total number of unhoused people. 

That figure marked a 40 percent increase from the rate it was at five years ago, reports CalMatters. 

At a press conference on Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom invited criticism after claiming his state is the 'national model' for homelessness 

Despite Newsom's remarks, California has seen a 40 percent surge in homelessness in the past five years 

At a press conference focused on Newsom's homelessness initiative, the governor touted a mental health provision that he pushed for earlier this year. 

Citing his 'national model', Newsom said: 'What Proposition 1 did is that it reinforced that model, provided more resources to advance that model, and we're very excited to get those dollars to work.' 

Proposition 1 was put to voters in March, aiming to expand access to mental health treatment plans for behavioral and substance abuse, alongside providing housing for individuals at risk of becoming homeless, including veterans. 

It will also impose strict rules on how counties can spend funds on homelessness, including being mandated to spend two-thirds of the money gained from a 2004 tax on millionaires solely on mental health services.  

The provision passed a statewide vote by less than half a percentage point - 50.2 to 49.8 percent - signaling the bill's divisiveness in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1. 

Newsom also raised over $13 million to promote the proposition, while its opponents raised just $1000, according to NPR. 

The number of unsheltered homeless people - those who live on the streets instead of shelters or government housing - in California is eight times higher than the second worst state 

Newsom has made homelessness a central issue in recent years, and recently secured a ballot measure to funnel billions towards the crisis 

The new drive against homelessness will see California build 4,305 new housing units and add 6,800 addiction treatment beds to its arsenal 

While critics argued that the legislation was too costly - taking billions to build 4,350 housing units and add 6,800 addiction treatment beds - Newsom countered that it marked a dramatic shift towards streamlining California's homelessness response. 

'Five years ago, there was no homeless strategy, no homeless plan,' Newsom said. 'The state of California was not involved in these issues. 

'To be fair, there was a half-a-billion appropriation that went out to the cities and counties with no accountability, no oversight, and no measured results - that was the first time the state put in a few bucks. 

'We had a mental health services act... but it outlived the world we're living in,' he continued, saying the state's previous mental health bill was designed for a 'world that no longer exists.' 

'We were listless, and it was pretty self-evident,' he said. 'The cities and counties were overwhelmed by what was happening on the streets and sidewalks. 

'We said, we need to do more as a state. The cities and counties cannot do this alone... It's about more than just money, it's about resourcefulness, it's about doing things that we were precluded from doing.' 

While Newsom indicated that he had high hopes for the success of his program, his assertion that other states should follow his 'model' drew backlash from some conservatives. 

California Congressman Kevin Kiley responded to a clip of the governor's speech on X, saying that his remarks were 'the height of delusion.' 

Another viewer also chimed in: 'Newsom is right, we are a national model - but in a negative sense. 

'Let the nation see us as a dire warning of how not to handle homelessness.'  

In Los Angeles, which has more homeless people than any other US city at a staggering 65,111 people, saw its homelessness rate increase by nine percent in 2023 compared to the previous year 

And although veteran's homelessness fell by 30 percent in the past 20 years in California, the total level of homelessness from 2007 to 2023 rose by 30.5 percent, with 42,000 more people becoming homeless in that time

Newsom's assertion over the drop in veteran's homelessness appeared to be citing the 30 percent drop in the past 12 years, however other metrics indicated homelessness has not improved in recent years. 

In Los Angeles, which has more homeless people than any other US city at a staggering 65,111 people according to a separate 2023 California Senate report, the rate increased by nine percent in 2023 compared to the previous year. 

The federal report from the same year also found that California accounted for 28 percent of all homeless people in the nation. 

It also found that the number of 'unsheltered' people - those not in any form of government housing or shelter and instead sleep on the streets - in California accounted for 49 percent of the entire nation's tally. 

At over 123,000 unsheltered homeless people in California, the state held a rate eight times higher than the second worst state, Florida, which had just 15,000. 

And although veteran's homelessness fell by 30 percent in the past 20 years in California, the total level of homelessness from 2007 to 2023 rose by 30.5 percent, with 42,000 more people becoming homeless in that time.