California Spent $17 Billion on Homelessness. It’s Not Working.
California's $17 billion effort to combat homelessness has yielded few results, as the state struggles to address the issue amid bureaucratic battles and cost overruns.
- California spent $17 billion battling homelessness over four years, with little progress to show for it.
- The Wood Street encampment in Oakland was home to over 300 people, until a fire forced a decision to clear the camp.
- Homelessness in California grew 50% between 2014 and 2022, with the state accounting for half of the nation's unsheltered homeless.
- Local and state officials have bickered over responsibility for addressing the issue, with cost overruns and delays hampering progress.
- Many of the homeless on Wood Street refused shelter spots because they couldn't bring their pets or belongings.
California Spent $17 Billion on Homelessness. It’s Not Working.
The Wood Street encampment for years drew people with nowhere to live, until a fire made finding a solution an urgent—and frustrating—task
Christine Mai-Duc an
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/6W5WJY7T4NLKVFJO5JX37LPYS4.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/BYL7ESQPMFMSNNVJSVCYKYTPH4.jpg)