Calif. failed to properly track homelessness spending, a state audit finds

Over the past five years, California has spent a staggering $24 billion addressing homelessness. However, a recent state audit has determined that the state failed to track the outcomes of its massive spending. In a letter to the governor and legislature, State Auditor Grant Parks said the state has to do more to asses its homeless programs, citing a lack of information regarding the cost and outcomes of individual programs. KNX News' Nataly Tavidian spoke with law professor Gary Blazey, who said information is available for the number of people placed in housing, but a deeper metric is missing. "We don't have very good numbers on how many people were able to stay in that housing," Parks said, "If they don't stay in that housing and they go back to the street, you haven't really reduced the number of homeless people on the street at all. And in the meantime, you spent a lot of money." So, what should the state be tracking? Parks said the focus should be on 'results', but they are challenging to track because the state doesn't have a system designed to easily collect the data. Parks said all levels of government routinely undergo financial audits, but "They don't very often do what are called 'performance audits' to see if that money is actually producing the desired results." According to Parks, more performance audits are likely coming at the city and county levels, similar to the federal judge's mandated audit on L.A's Inside Safe program.
Photo credit Getty Images

Over the past five years, California has spent a staggering $24 billion addressing homelessness. However, a recent audit has determined that the state failed to track the outcomes of its massive spending.

In a letter to the governor and legislature, State Auditor Grant Parks said the state has to do more to asses its homeless programs, citing a lack of information regarding the cost and outcomes of individual programs.

KNX News' Nataly Tavidian spoke with UCLA law professor Gary Blasi, who said information is available for the number of people placed in housing, but a deeper metric is missing.

"We don't have very good numbers on how many people were able to stay in that housing," Blasi said, "If they don't stay in that housing and they go back to the street, you haven't really reduced the number of homeless people on the street at all. And in the meantime, you spent a lot of money."

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So, what should the state be tracking? Blasi said the focus should be on 'results', but they are challenging to track because the state doesn't have a system designed to easily collect the data.

Blasi said all levels of government routinely undergo financial audits, but "They don't very often do what are called 'performance audits' to see if that money is actually producing the desired results."

According to Blasi, more performance audits are likely coming at the city and county levels, similar to the federal judge's mandated audit on L.A's Inside Safe program.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images