California Gov. According to an audit, Gavin Newsom’s ( D) administration lost track of the$ 24 billion in taxpayer money it has spent over the past five years to try to address the state’s homelessness crisis.
The California State Auditor’s document, released on April 9, detailed several “gaps” in responsibilities in regards to how the money was allocated during the 2018- 2023 fiscal years. Grant Parks, a leaker, claimed the condition “has not collected enough data” to demonstrate that the billions of dollars had improved the situation.  ,
The California Interagency Council on Homelessness ( Cal ICH) has” not consistently tracked and evaluated the State’s efforts to prevent and stop poverty” since 2021, according to Parks, who was appointed by Newsom in 2022.
According to the report,” Cal ICH has also not aligned its actions plan to end poverty with its legislative aims to obtain financial information and maintain transparency and benefits.” Therefore, it lacks confidence that the steps it takes may actually help it accomplish those objectives.
In essence, it’s impossible to tell whether the income really went toward helping the homeless.
California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher immediately criticizes Newsom, and liberals all over the position are now demanding answers.
” This is common Gavin Newsom – make a showy news, spend a bunch of taxpayer funds, and totally fail to deliver”, Gallagher told Fox News.  ,
” Californians are tired of the poor problems, and they’re even more tired of Gavin’s mistakes. We need results – period, full stop” . ,
Rep. Kevin Kiley ( R ) criticized the governor for trying to stop the audit in X.  ,
” Newsom intervened to remove the inspection when I first requested it in 2020. Now we know why he did n’t want his spending examined”, the congressman wrote. ” Last month, Assemblyman Josh Hoover got the audit approved, and the results released today are even worse than I expected”.
” However, poverty has increased by 32 percent in California over the last five years. It has increased 67 percentage in Sacramento. And half the world’s unsheltered poor today live in our state”, he continued.
He continued,” California is spending more and more on poverty and the problem is getting worse, worse, and worse. Much worse than anywhere else in the United States. Another illustration of how people give the least in return for the most.
The Californian government’s$ 24 billion to combat poverty over the past five years has suddenly been released, and the findings are irritating:” California spent$ 24 billion to combat poverty over the past five decades but did n’t continuously monitor whether the enormous investment of public funds really improved the situation.”
— Kevin Kiley ( @KevinKileyCA ) April 9, 2024
The findings were described as “deeply concerning,” according to state senators ‘ minority leader Brian W. Jones.
The audit of California’s$ 24 billion spend on “ending homelessness” over the last 5 years is deeply concerning.
The audit does n’t reveal much because the Newsom Administration failed to collect data, track spending, and evaluate effectiveness. Essentially, there was limited …
— Brian W. Jones ( @SenBrianJones ) April 11, 2024
State Sen. Roger Niello ( R ) also told Fox News that the audit was” troubling”, but that he “was n’t terribly surprised”.
” The one issue I had with the audit was that the focus was mostly on housing and shelter issues, which is certainly important, but really very little about actual results, getting people out of homelessness, not just into shelter”, Niello told the outlet. ” That’s sort of half the job, maybe not even quite half the job. And, so that was a little bit of a disappointment” . ,
Former MLB All- Star Steve Garvey, who is running as a Republican against Rep. Adam Schiff ( D) for the U. S. Senate, said the state needs “real political courage to make necessary changes” . ,
” Since day one, I’ve advocated for a federal audit of California’s homelessness crisis”, he said. ” I’m pleased that the state has done this, but now we need real political courage to make the necessary changes,” the governor said. Our unhoused people and our taxpayers deserve real results, not more failed policies” . ,
Since day one, I’ve advocated for a federal audit of California’s homelessness crisis.
I’m pleased that the government has taken this action, but we now need real political will to make the necessary adjustments.
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
State Senator Dave Cortese ( D), who added that the state’s incompetence, “highlights the need for improved data and greater transparency at both the state and local levels,” added Cortese.
Cortese continued,” there is a balkanized approach to data collection and outcomes, with no centralized system for tracking our investments,” after touring a San Jose homeless encampment in 2023.
This audit highlights the urgent need to establish best practices and establish a framework for how the State of California and our cities can address our most pressing issue, he continued.
