An audit released earlier this month provided a scathing review of the state's oversight of efforts to tackle homelessness.

Over the past five years, the state spent 24 billion dollars to tackle homelessness; however, the effectiveness and outcomes of the programs haven't been tracked, according to the audit.

The report also found that the California Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness stopped tracking program spending in 2021.

Governor Gavin Newsom said on Thursday that the state will expand California's Housing Accountability Unit to include more aggressive enforcement of housing laws and reassign personnel to the unit.

Although state oversight appears to be lacking, Fresno leaders and organizations receiving the funds say they hold themselves accountable.

"We work hand in hand with the city of Fresno," said Zack Darrah, Poverello House CEO.

"Every single penny and dollar is, is scrutinized all the way to the you know, to this receipt, or that receipt, typically going through 1,000s of pages, every single month of what dollars are being spent on and what the impacts are of those dollars."

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