California's Homelessness Crisis Worsens Amid Ineffective Spending Oversight

A state audit reveals significant gaps in tracking the effectiveness of California's homelessness programs, despite billions allocated.

California has spent approximately $24 billion over the past five years on homelessness, but a state audit finds major deficiencies in tracking spending and program effectiveness.
Homelessness has increased by 53% since 2013, with California accounting for nearly a third of the nation's homeless population.
Only two of the five major state-funded homelessness programs were deemed potentially cost-effective, highlighting a lack of reliable data for the others.
The California Interagency Council on Homelessness has not consistently tracked program outcomes since 2021, complicating efforts to address the crisis.
Recent legislative and public initiatives aim to improve the situation, but the state continues to struggle with transparency and accountability in its homelessness programs.