California may be one of the wealthiest states in the U.S., but it also has a massive homeless problem. 

California has the largest homeless population in the country, and Governor Gavin Newsom is addressing the issue as he reveals a massive plan to build homes for the homeless.

California will reportedly spend approximately $30 million for this plan to build 1,200 small homes across the state this year. 

Newsom announced it on Thursday as part of his plan to deal with the problem of homelessness throughout the state.

However, these homes are reportedly tiny, measuring only around 120 square feet (11 square meters). But they can be assembled in 90 minutes, costing a fraction of what it takes to build permanent housing. 

The California governor hopes that these would help clear homeless encampments that have sprung up across many California major cities.

Various cities in the United States have used this practice of using small houses for years. And Newsom's plan would be implemented on a state-wide scale.

Cities that have successfully implemented this practice include San Jose, California, which has installed 500 small homes in the last three years. The number of homeless people in the city dropped from 84% to 75%. 

According to the Associated Press, that was the first time the number of homeless people has declined in the city in many years.

"If you look around the world at places that have gotten a handle on this challenge, it's because they've scaled up safe places for people to go," said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan on the success of his program.

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Gavin Newsom Skipped State of the State to Tour California

When Gavin Newsom made his big housing announcement, he was in the first leg of his four-city tour in Sacramento.

The Democrat reportedly chose to skip the pomp and pageantry of the annual State of the State address to go on this tour.

"He's not interested in the pomp of the State of the State speech," said political adviser Sean Clegg. "He wants to get a spotlight on these issues he's going to talk about rather than getting up there and doing the laundry list."

Newsom highlighted his administration's housing efforts and other issues, such as criminal justice reform, Politico reported. The governor also planned to visit on Friday San Quentin State Prison, where he will address prison reform. 

He will also outline his healthcare plans in Los Angeles before proposing mental health policies in San Diego.

California Government Suing Huntington Beach Over Housing Ban

Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta also announced Thursday that they had filed a lawsuit against the city of Huntington Beach. 

The suit alleges that the city's ban on approving applications for certain housing projects violates state law.

Bonta noted that "the Huntington Beach City Council has chosen to stifle affordable housing projects, infringe on the rights of property owners and knowingly violate state housing law."

Newsom has called what is happening in Huntington Beach an example of "what's wrong with housing in the state of California."

However, according to the Los Angeles Times, Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland said during a news conference that "neither the state or Gavin Newsom are serious about actually producing more housing." 

He accused the state government of trying to "urbanize quiet private property-owning communities" and called the move unconstitutional.

Newsom had been trying to place affordable housing projects all over the state, including Huntington Beach, which was pushed back on this policy.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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