With $37 billion spent on homelessness since 2019, CA audits reveal more issues


Full story

  • A recent audit of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) found that the city cannot track spending on homelessness programs and failed to reconcile funds with services provided, hindering evaluation of program effectiveness.
  • California has spent $37 billion on homelessness since 2019. However, a state report reveals an undercounting of homeless individuals, with 34% of them coming from outside the state.
  • State auditors recommend that California delay the next round of homelessness funding until agencies can prove their programs are effective. Agencies must submit reports by April 1, 2026.

Full Story

California officials are using audits to address concerns over the management of homelessness funding. Recent findings show mismanaged funds, a lack of accountability and individuals from outside the state using services.

What have recent audits revealed?

An audit released Thursday, March 6, of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) revealed the city is unable to track how much it has spent on homelessness programs. The audit also found that the city failed to reconcile spending with services provided, making it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness or delivery of those services.

In response to the report, a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, Lindsey Horvath, posted on X, saying, “I’m introducing a motion to create a consolidated County Department to end this nightmare. It’s another reminder of what we already know: the current system is broken.”

This marks the second critical report on LAHSA in recent months. A November 2024 report revealed failures to track millions of dollars in cash advances to contractors and delays in paying service providers, even when funds were available.

A statewide issue?

The issue is not limited to Los Angeles. A report by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, also released during the week of March 2, shows that the state has spent $37 billion on homelessness since 2019. However, the report also indicated that the state is underreporting the number of homeless individuals.

In response, the governor’s office told FOX 26, “This is simply not true. The audit did not report that the state has failed to track funding. The state distributed funding to local governments to address homelessness through numerous state programs — all the money is accounted for. We know exactly where state funding has gone — to local governments who are building programs, shelter and housing.”

Additionally, a 2023 study found that 34% of homeless individuals in California are from out of state.

Recommendations to hold funds

Based on these findings, state auditors recommend withholding the next round of grant funding until proof of program effectiveness is provided. Agencies receiving funding in this cycle have until April 1, 2026, to submit their reports.

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Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left reveal that the audit emphasized the city's inability to accurately track spending or service effectiveness for homeless programs.
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right highlight the significant loss of tracking billions in spending on homelessness services by Los Angeles officials.

Media landscape

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62 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • The audit by Alvarez & Marsal found that Los Angeles homeless programs lack adequate oversight, risking waste and inefficiency.
  • The audit concluded that the city could not accurately track spending or service effectiveness for homeless programs.
  • Elizabeth Mitchell, an attorney for the plaintiffs, stated that the audit confirms urgent needs for systemic reform, labeling the findings as deadly.
  • Alvarez & Marsal noted the emotional impact of visiting homeless encampments, stating that every day that goes by there are people on the street who are not receiving the services that the city is paying for.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Right

  • Los Angeles officials lost track of billions in spending on homelessness services, with an audit finding about $2.3 billion was inaccurately recorded and reported.
  • The auditor found that approximately $2.3 billion intended for homeless services was difficult to quantify due to fragmented data systems and inconsistent reporting by the city, county and LAHSA.
  • Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath stated that the findings support the need to replace LAHSA, highlighting failures in accountability and results.
  • Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that the audit reflects ongoing issues since her tenure began, validating her efforts to enact change in the city's homelessness management.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

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Full story

  • A recent audit of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) found that the city cannot track spending on homelessness programs and failed to reconcile funds with services provided, hindering evaluation of program effectiveness.
  • California has spent $37 billion on homelessness since 2019. However, a state report reveals an undercounting of homeless individuals, with 34% of them coming from outside the state.
  • State auditors recommend that California delay the next round of homelessness funding until agencies can prove their programs are effective. Agencies must submit reports by April 1, 2026.

Full Story

California officials are using audits to address concerns over the management of homelessness funding. Recent findings show mismanaged funds, a lack of accountability and individuals from outside the state using services.

What have recent audits revealed?

An audit released Thursday, March 6, of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) revealed the city is unable to track how much it has spent on homelessness programs. The audit also found that the city failed to reconcile spending with services provided, making it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness or delivery of those services.

In response to the report, a member of the LA County Board of Supervisors, Lindsey Horvath, posted on X, saying, “I’m introducing a motion to create a consolidated County Department to end this nightmare. It’s another reminder of what we already know: the current system is broken.”

This marks the second critical report on LAHSA in recent months. A November 2024 report revealed failures to track millions of dollars in cash advances to contractors and delays in paying service providers, even when funds were available.

A statewide issue?

The issue is not limited to Los Angeles. A report by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, also released during the week of March 2, shows that the state has spent $37 billion on homelessness since 2019. However, the report also indicated that the state is underreporting the number of homeless individuals.

In response, the governor’s office told FOX 26, “This is simply not true. The audit did not report that the state has failed to track funding. The state distributed funding to local governments to address homelessness through numerous state programs — all the money is accounted for. We know exactly where state funding has gone — to local governments who are building programs, shelter and housing.”

Additionally, a 2023 study found that 34% of homeless individuals in California are from out of state.

Recommendations to hold funds

Based on these findings, state auditors recommend withholding the next round of grant funding until proof of program effectiveness is provided. Agencies receiving funding in this cycle have until April 1, 2026, to submit their reports.

Tags: , , ,

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left reveal that the audit emphasized the city's inability to accurately track spending or service effectiveness for homeless programs.
  • Not enough coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right highlight the significant loss of tracking billions in spending on homelessness services by Los Angeles officials.

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

62 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • The audit by Alvarez & Marsal found that Los Angeles homeless programs lack adequate oversight, risking waste and inefficiency.
  • The audit concluded that the city could not accurately track spending or service effectiveness for homeless programs.
  • Elizabeth Mitchell, an attorney for the plaintiffs, stated that the audit confirms urgent needs for systemic reform, labeling the findings as deadly.
  • Alvarez & Marsal noted the emotional impact of visiting homeless encampments, stating that every day that goes by there are people on the street who are not receiving the services that the city is paying for.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Right

  • Los Angeles officials lost track of billions in spending on homelessness services, with an audit finding about $2.3 billion was inaccurately recorded and reported.
  • The auditor found that approximately $2.3 billion intended for homeless services was difficult to quantify due to fragmented data systems and inconsistent reporting by the city, county and LAHSA.
  • Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath stated that the findings support the need to replace LAHSA, highlighting failures in accountability and results.
  • Mayor Karen Bass acknowledged that the audit reflects ongoing issues since her tenure began, validating her efforts to enact change in the city's homelessness management.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

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