USA Today: Report: California spends billions to tackle homelessness but fails to track outcomes

California has failed to consistently track the ongoing costs and outcomes of its homelessness services despite spending billions of dollars over the past five years to combat the crisis, a new state audit report found.

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Democratic California state Sen. Dave Cortese had requested the audit after touring an encampment in San Jose in 2022. In a statement Tuesday, Cortese called for improved data and greater transparency at both the state and local levels. 

"Unfortunately, there is a balkanized approach to data collection and outcomes, with no centralized system for tracking our investments," Cortese said. "This data desert leaves the Legislature and the public without a system of checks and balances to answer basic questions about the effectiveness of our programs."

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