Question #5 (Submitted November 16, 2025)

This year’s federal count of Californians who lack housing neared 186,000, by far the most of any state and about 5,000 people higher than the previous year. (MSN)

A 2023 report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office pegged direct spending by four state agencies since Newsom became governor at $20 billion, but didn’t include spending by other agencies or local governments. The state’s auditor, Grant Parks, cited $24 billion by nine state agencies in a report last spring that castigated Newsom’s Interagency Council on Homelessness for failing to fully track how billions of dollars were spent or determining which programs were effective. (MSN)

Since 2019-20, California has dedicated roughly $37 billion to housing and homelessness programs, a mix of state General Fund allocations, special funds, voter-approved bonds, and federal dollars. The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Cal ICH have been the primary recipients of these funds, with broad mandates to create affordable housing and support individuals at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. However, despite this historic level of investment, the number of people without housing has continued to climb. (Folsom Times)

The LAO report indicates that while California has dramatically increased its financial commitments, there is little accountability in tracking how effectively these funds are being used. The ERF program, which has received nearly $1 billion over four rounds of funding, is a key example of how state money is being allocated without clear metrics for success. (Folsom Times)

Federal officials on Tuesday [April 8, 2025] announced the creation of the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force, aimed at investigating fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption in funds allocated to combat homelessness in the Central District of California. (Fox11)

The task force will include federal prosecutors from the Major Frauds Section, the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. It will be supported by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and IRS Criminal Investigation. (Fox11)


Question #5:
Given the overwhelming data supporting increased homelessness, increased spending, lack of transparency, and lack of accountability, as Governor of California what would you do to assist in the investigation of how and where the allocated money went to? If the money was found to be used unlawfully, would you hold those person(s) accountable? How would you attempt to attack and fix the homeless problem?

RESPONSES:

All candidates did NOT respond to this question.

Q5-Answers-From-Politicians-Regarding-Homelessness-Spending-Boondoggle