SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 634, authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez. California state law will now ensure that service workers, good neighbors, faith-based organizations, and other community outreach groups can continue their critical work to assist people experiencing homelessness without fear of criminal penalty.

Reporting from last year found California hitting a record high in homelessness, and these rates continue to grow both in the state and nationally. We know that California policy is a bellwether for national approaches to homelessness, so fighting for more effective and humanitarian policies is crucial. All evidence continues to illustrate what works to end homelessness — providing supportive services, connecting people to housing and letting unhoused people determine what they need to get off the street.

Despite this, some cities have gone as far as proposing criminal penalties for people assisting those who are unhoused, providing food, water or medical care. Laws like this would criminalize the very activities that the State of California is funding as part of its multi-year effort to reduce homelessness.

SB 634 now draws a firm line and prohibits cities from penalizing assisting unhoused individuals, protecting legal aid providers, medical professionals and other non-profit service providers. These protections are critical at a time when the Trump administration is attacking lawyers and non-profits, and advancing draconian, backwards approaches to homelessness that are rooted in neither data nor dignity.

“I appreciate Governor Newsom for signing my SB 634. The legislation provides commonsense protections for service providers, especially non-profits and faith-based ones, who are doing the work every day to assist unhoused Californians. This new law removes the threat of local governments outlawing their ability to provide supportive services, including legal and medical services, as well as other basic survival resources like food, to unhoused individuals,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “I want to express my deep gratitude to our sponsors on this legislation who worked tirelessly with us to make this moment a reality including Disability Rights California, Inner City Law Center, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty.”

“To end homelessness, we must provide housing that’s affordable and the services people are seeking, and that requires that we support the life saving efforts of front line services providers,” said Alex Visotzky from National Alliance to End Homelessness. “We are proud that California is the first state to provide protections to our front line service workers, medical and legal providers, and the non-profits doing the hard work to get people out of homelessness.”

"Governor Newsom’s approval of SB 634 marks an important step in protecting our unhoused neighbors," said Inner City Law Center CEO Adam Murray. "This victory will ensure that helping people experiencing homelessness is never treated as a crime but as a sign of our common humanity.”

“People who provide food, water, & support to our unhoused neighbors should be commended, not punished,” said Monica Porter Gilbert from Disability Rights California. “We are proud of this cross-coalition effort to ensure that California provides baseline protections for service providers and neighbors who are doing their part to end homelessness in our state.”

“Western Center celebrates the passage of SB 634, a critical step in protecting legal aid nonprofits and medical workers who provide lifesaving services to people experiencing homelessness,” said Cori Racela, Executive Director of Western Center on Law & Poverty. “Cities cannot respond to the housing crisis by criminalizing those offering support. With SB 634, we can focus on real solutions—helping people find stability and housing—instead of punishing those working to make that possible.”

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.

About SB 634

SB 634 is supported by a diverse coalition of advocates, service providers, and community members with the aim to support proven, effective solutions to end homelessness.

Read about SB 634

Media Contacts

Sam Mickens
Communications Director
Disability Rights California
sam.mickens@disabilityrightsca.org
(646) 945-0918

Jerome Parra
Communications Director
Office of Senator Sasha Renée Pérez
jerome.parra@sen.ca.gov
(916) 651-4025 W
(916) 472-4896 C

Jacqueline Burbank
Communications Manager
Inner City Law Center
jburbank@innercitylaw.org
(213) 947-7902

Maria Sundeen
Chief Communications Strategist
Western Center on Law & Poverty
msundeen@wclp.org
(323) 333-5439

Alex Visotzky
Senior California Policy Fellow
National Alliance to End Homelessness
avisotzky@naeh.org
(202) 304-3609

Disability Rights California (DRC), Is the agency designated under federal law to protect and advocate for the rights of Californians with disabilities. The mission of DRC is to defend, advance, and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. As a leading voice on the issue of homelessness, the Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective solutions; works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity; and provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide. Visit The National Alliance to End Homelessness website.

Western Center on Law & Poverty is California’s premier nonprofit public interest social justice law organization. Founded in 1967, we provide comprehensive advocacy and legal services to prevent poverty, redress systemic racism, and foster policies ensuring equitable healthcare, affordable housing, and fair access to public programs. Through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond California, we advance racial and economic justice—dismantling and transforming systems so all communities in California can thrive. Visit Western Center on Law & Poverty website.

Inner City Law Center is a nonprofit, poverty-law firm based in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles. As the only legal-services provider with offices in Skid Row, Inner City Law Center fights for housing and justice for low-income tenants, working-poor families, housing insecure veterans, people experiencing homelessness and people living with disabilities or HIV. Visit Inner City Law Center website.