Unless you're going north of Frisco the homeless get even worse the further you go.
I am going from LA about 90 miles to my hometown which I only lived in a could of years as a baby. I am from a farming family.
Carpinteria is very beautiful....but tiny ... right on the ocean. Town is about 6 blocks long. No homeless at all....but Santa Barbara, also lovely, is Democrat and has lots of wayward free homeless.
California is my home, my family has farmed here for many generations even though my mom relocated me too LA where I worked as an equities trader for over 40 years. I will never, ever leave California. It is truly beautiful here.
Having said. that, I have never warmed to San Francisco. A bunch of worthless snobs. I detest having to go up there on business at times.