Some California Democrats are expressing frustration with Governor Gavin Newsom’s handling of the state’s homelessness crisis after his homelessness council failed to track whether billions of dollars spent on addressing the issue over the last five years were successful. Lawmakers raised concerns during a budget committee hearing, questioning the lack of data on the effectiveness of the spending and the number of homeless individuals helped. The California Interagency Council on Homelessness (CICH) cited “data quality issues” as the reason for the lack of metrics on how more than $20 billion was allocated since its establishment.
The state’s failure to track progress and outcomes of spending on homelessness programs has raised concerns among both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, especially as California faces a significant budget deficit that must be resolved by July. The state auditor’s report revealed that over the past five years, nine state agencies collectively spent $24 billion in state funding on various programs aimed at addressing homelessness, with the CICH responsible for coordinating and evaluating these efforts. Despite the substantial funding allocated, the auditor found that the council did not consistently track improvements in the homelessness situation and failed to collect and evaluate outcome data for these programs.
Governor Newsom has come under scrutiny for his handling of the homelessness crisis, particularly as homelessness has increased by over 53% since 2013 in many cities despite billions spent on housing and homelessness programs. In response, Newsom has called for cities to enforce the state’s housing laws more rigorously, announcing the expansion of a Department of Housing and Community Development agency to ensure compliance with laws requiring cities to build new homes. The governor emphasized a need for more decisive action to address homelessness and housing issues across the state.
The lack of accountability and oversight in tracking the effectiveness of spending on homelessness programs has raised concerns among lawmakers, with some Democrats turning on Governor Newsom for his administration’s failure to provide clear data on the impact of the allocated funds. The state auditor called for improvements in assessing the cost-effectiveness of homelessness programs to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and effectively to address the crisis. Despite the criticism and growing discontent, neither Newsom’s office nor the CICH responded to requests for comment on the issue.
As California continues to grapple with a growing homelessness crisis and a looming budget deficit, the failure to track the impact of billions of dollars spent on addressing homelessness has further exacerbated concerns among lawmakers. The state’s lack of data on the effectiveness of its programs has hindered efforts to address the root causes of homelessness and provide sustainable solutions. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for increased accountability, transparency, and oversight in how state funds are allocated and whether they are having a meaningful impact on reducing homelessness in California.
