Senator Cortese and Supervisor Chavez Initiate Audit Request on State Funding for San Jose’s Homeless Population

After encouragement from Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez during a tour of the Columbus Park encampment in San Jose, Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) is requesting that the State Auditor conduct a review of San Jose’s use of state and federal funds to combat homelessness.

The audit will review if the City of San Jose has effectively used this funding, such as Project Roomkey, Project Homekey, and federal stimulus funds, to address homelessness, and what outcomes it has achieved.

The audit will also review if the City has identified public safety and health issues, such as rodent infestations and the accumulation of trash, at local encampments.

The audit request will go before the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit for approval.

Senator Dave Cortese says, “We need concrete goals to be established in City policy so that we can end homelessness. I’m hopeful this audit will allow us to better serve the City’s unsheltered population and serve as a model for other big cities across the state.”

"After touring the Columbus Park encampment, it was clear the City of San Jose was not efficiently or effectively spending the state and federal funding we were afforded including Room Key and Project Home Key. Most troubling is there was no accountability by the City of San Jose," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. "I'd like to thank State Senator Dave Cortese for asking for a state audit of these projects on my behalf.”