Some Cali Leaders Ask Accountability After Report
A recent audit of California’s efforts to combat the homeless crisis has sparked calls for more accountability from state Republican leaders. According to the audit, the state spent approximately $24 billion on homeless and housing programs over the past five years but failed to consistently track whether the massive expenditure made any significant improvements to the problem.
The audit, released earlier this week, revealed several key findings. One of the most concerning was that the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) stopped tracking the effectiveness of these programs in 2021 and did not have a consistent method for collecting and evaluating outcome data. This lack of accountability has raised questions about the overall impact of the state’s efforts and led many to question the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom.
James Gallagher, California Assembly Republican Leader, did not mince words when it came to placing blame on the Newsom administration. In a statement to Fox News Digital, he criticized Newsom’s track record of “make a splashy announcement, waste a bunch of taxpayer money, and completely fail to deliver.” Gallagher went on to say that Californians are tired of the homeless crisis and “need results – period, full stop.”
Since day one, I’ve advocated for a federal audit of California’s homelessness crisis.
I’m glad that the state has done this, but now we need real political courage to make necessary changes.
Our unhoused people and our taxpayers deserve real results, not more failed policies. https://t.co/4fMVdRCNPD pic.twitter.com/JhQnmITR05— Steve Garvey (@SteveyGarvey6) April 9, 2024
Republican state Sen. Roger Niello also expressed concern about the audit’s findings, stating that he “wasn’t terribly surprised.” He noted that the focus of the audit was on housing and shelter issues, but lacked information on the outcomes and success rates of these programs. Niello highlighted the need for a centralized system for tracking investments and outcomes, stating that simply getting people into the shelter is “only half the job.”
Democrats have also weighed in on the audit’s findings. State Sen. Dave Cortese, who requested the audit last year after visiting a homeless encampment in San Jose, acknowledged the need for improved data and transparency in addressing the crisis. He stated that the state and cities must work together to establish best practices and a blueprint for tackling the issue.
Steve Garvey, a former MLB All-Star running for U.S. Senate in California as a Republican, called for “real political courage” to make necessary changes. Garvey has long advocated for a federal audit of California’s homelessness crisis and believes that the current findings demonstrate the need for real results and not just failed policies.
Despite the audit’s findings, Cal ICH claims to have made improvements in data collection since the implementation of AB 977 on January 1, 2023. This law requires specific data elements related to individuals and families to be entered into the local Homeless Management Information System by those receiving state-funded homelessness programs. However, Cal ICH also shifted the blame to local governments, stating that they are primarily responsible for implementing these programs and collecting data on outcomes.
In response to this shift in accountability, many are calling for the state to take a more proactive role in overseeing and evaluating the success of these programs. The lack of consistent data and accountability raises concerns about the effectiveness of the state’s efforts and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. As the homeless crisis continues to plague California, it is clear that more needs to be done to address the issue and ensure that resources are being used effectively to help those in need.