California Spent $24 Billion on Homelessness and It Can’t Measure the Impact

State auditor questions the effectiveness of spending programs
Report follows close vote on $6 billion bond backed by Newsom

Since 2019, homelessness in the state rose by almost 20% to more than 181,000. — Since 2019, homelessness in the state rose by almost 20% to more than 181,000.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

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By Nadia Lopez

April 10, 2024 at 6:38 PM UTC

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California has devoted $24 billion to homelessness programs during the last five years. The problem’s only gotten worse.

Since 2019, homelessness in the state rose by almost 20% to more than 181,000. California also has the nation’s highest share of “unsheltered” homeless, or people living in makeshift encampments or cars rather than indoor shelters.