SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California voters have approved a measure that will impose strict requirements on counties to spend on housing and drug treatment programs to tackle the state’s homelessness crisis, in a tissue-thin win for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who personally campaigned for the measure’s passage.

The number of Democrats in California is twice as high as the number of Republicans, which is surprising. The recent vote, which took place over two weeks after the election, showed dissatisfaction with the state’s policies on homelessness. Despite investing billions of dollars to address the issue, there has been no significant improvement in Los Angeles and other major cities.

The state accounts for nearly a third of the homeless population in the United States; roughly 181,000 Californians are in need of housing.

Governor Newsom, who was a major advocate for the proposal, invested a significant amount of time and resources in its promotion. He successfully raised over $13 million, with endorsements from law enforcement, first responders, hospitals, and major city mayors. On the other hand, opponents only managed to raise $1,000.

“Proposition 1 signifies the initial revamp of the state’s mental health system in two decades.”

Governor Newsom declared that this is a significant shift in addressing homelessness in California and a win for implementing unconventional methods. He emphasized that now it’s up to counties and local authorities to match the determination of California voters. It is crucial that everyone, including state and local officials, act promptly to ensure the success of this groundbreaking reform.

Under the new regulations, counties are obligated to allocate approximately two-thirds of the funds generated by a tax for millionaires, which was approved by voters in 2004, towards providing housing and services for homeless individuals with severe mental health issues or substance abuse disorders.

The current stock of beds in the state is 5,500, but an additional 8,000 units are needed to address mental health and substance abuse concerns.

This plan also permits the government to take a loan of $6.38 billion in order to construct 4,350 homes, with half of them being set aside for veterans. The initiative also includes the addition of 6,800 beds for mental health and addiction treatment.

Critics, including organizations that offer social services and government representatives, argued that the alteration could jeopardize initiatives that address homelessness prevention rather than just housing and substance abuse treatment.

Some critics argue that using one formula could result in rural counties like Butte, which have a homeless population of less than 1,300, being obligated to allocate the same proportion of funds towards housing as urban counties like San Francisco, whose homeless population is six times larger.

Due to the presence of temporary shelters on streets and causing disruptions in towns throughout California, the problem of homelessness has become a major source of frustration and is likely to be an obstacle for Newsom if he pursues a potential national campaign in the future.

Newsom hailed the initiative as the last element of his strategy to revamp California’s mental healthcare system. He has previously advocated for legislation that streamlines the process of compelling individuals with mental health concerns to receive treatment.

William Elias, a TV producer from Sacramento, was uncertain about Proposition 1 but ultimately chose to support it due to the widespread issue of homelessness.

“It’s a current situation that surrounds us,” he stated. “There are numerous tents set up in front of City Hall.”

Palm Springs resident Estrellita Vivirito voted in favor of the measure.

“It makes sense, we have to take action,” she stated.

Katherine Wolf, a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley, stated that she voted against the measure due to fears that it would lead to increased instances of forced incarceration.

“I was shocked by the set of laws constructed by Newsom that aim to diminish the rights of individuals with mental disabilities,” stated Wolf.

Sacramento state employee Griffin Bovee, who identifies as a Republican, cast a negative vote for the proposition and voiced concerns about the state’s misuse of taxpayer funds.

The speaker stated that Sacramento should not receive any more funds until they can identify why their current approach is ineffective in addressing the issue of homelessness. Despite spending $20 billion in recent years to address the problem, it has only worsened.

The state’s mental health budget is funded by approximately one-third of the annual revenue from the tax on millionaires, which currently ranges between $2 billion and $3 billion.

Critics, including certain county officials, providers of mental health services, and some members of the Republican party, argued that the proposed measure would decrease funding for cultural centers, peer support programs, and vocational services, creating a competition between these programs and those aimed at assisting homeless individuals.

The government led by Newsom has allocated over $22 billion towards various initiatives aimed at tackling the crisis. A portion of this, $3.5 billion, has been used to renovate deteriorating motels into housing for homeless individuals. Additionally, California has earmarked $2 billion for grants to construct additional treatment centers.

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This report was contributed to by Los Angeles journalist Michael R. Blood from the Associated Press.