For years, San Diego County residents have watched homelessness grow despite billions of dollars flowing into programs that promised change. People are suffering on our streets, tents continue to multiply, and taxpayers are left wondering where their hard-earned money is going.
That frustration is justified — and long overdue for real accountability.
At this week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, we took an important step toward rebuilding that trust. I introduced the Transparency and Accountability Audit, a countywide effort to finally follow the dollars being spent on homelessness. I’m proud to share that it passed.
This audit will give our region what has been missing for far too long: clear answers.
How much money came into San Diego County? Who received it? How was it spent? And where are funds still unaccounted for?
These may seem like basic questions, but remarkably, nobody has ever compiled that information in one place. A recent report from the California State Auditor found that more than $24 billion in statewide homelessness spending between 2018 and 2023 wasn’t consistently tracked. That lack of transparency doesn’t just waste money — it prevents us from understanding what works and what doesn’t.
By finally following the money, we will be able to identify which programs are helping people exit homelessness and which ones are failing those they are supposed to serve. This is how we move from a system built on assumptions to a system built on results.
We know transparency works. In the County’s unincorporated areas — where we have more direct oversight — we’ve already achieved an 11% reduction in homelessness. Early next year, we will take another major step by launching a public dashboard so every resident can see exactly where homelessness dollars are going and the outcomes they’re delivering.
Homelessness doesn’t stop at city borders, and accountability shouldn’t either. San Diegans deserve a system that prioritizes people, not bureaucracy. Every dollar spent must move us closer to getting individuals off the streets and into stable, supportive housing.
This audit is not a partisan idea. It’s a common-sense step toward solutions that work — and toward restoring the public’s faith that their government is acting responsibly, effectively, and transparently.
Jim Desmond represents District 5 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
