California politics just got a reality check, and it’s not looking pretty for recovery advocates. Governor Gavin Newsom has effectively slam-dunked Assembly Bill 255 right into the rejection bin, leaving substance-free housing supporters scratching their heads.

The Housing First Dilemma

Assemblymember Matt Haney’s bill aimed to create a lifeline for folks in recovery by allowing state funding for substance-free housing. But Newsom wasn’t having it. His reasoning? Creating a new housing category would be more complicated and expensive than solving the actual problem.

The Bigger Picture

Currently, “housing first” policies mandate that permanent housing be offered without conditions like sobriety. Haney argues this approach can be dangerous for people trying to stay clean, potentially forcing recovering addicts into environments that could trigger relapse.

What’s Next?

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie isn’t thrilled, calling the veto a potential roadblock to addressing the city’s addiction and homelessness crisis. Newsom, however, suggests stakeholders should rework the bill and consider changes through the budget process.

The takeaway? Sometimes bureaucratic red tape looks more like a brick wall than a flexible solution. Recovery advocates will need to keep pushing for meaningful change – one bill at a time.