Episode 171: California's Homelessness Crisis: $24 Billion and Rising

The Hoover Institution, a prominent research center, published an article analyzing California's ineffective $24 billion investment in homelessness initiatives since 2019. The article highlights three key failures: a lack of oversight and data tracking of spending, insufficient household income to afford California's high cost of living, and the construction of excessively expensive housing for the homeless. The author argues that better data collection, affordable housing construction outside expensive coastal areas, and a focus on supporting those truly needing assistance are crucial for effective solutions. The article concludes by criticizing Governor Newsom's veto of legislation mandating annual evaluations of homelessness spending. The Hoover Institution's website provides further information on its research and fellows.