The homeless problem in California, is worse, not better.
I have written about this subject several times over the years, and the problem has gotten worse, not better over those years.
You pay the taxes that the state spends on running our state and government, and you vote for the people that run it.
As of last week, the state going out to do a recount on the number of homeless that are out there, and I believe the state is going to say they need more money to solve the problem.
Below is a part of a couple of articles on what the state has spent on this problem so far.
California put aside $7.2 billion to address homelessness in the 2021-22 state budget.
Last year, there were an estimated 172,000 homeless statewide, which equates to spending nearly $42,000 per homeless person.
Spending of this magnitude – which only accounts for state money – is sufficient if it were applied effectively.
The worsening crisis indicates that something is off with how the state spends its resources.
This perspective is important in light of a comprehensive homeless survey by UC San Francisco. Many of its findings are enlightening, but too many of its suggestions call for more spending.
It strains credulity to believe that spending $42,000 per person is insufficient, but if bumped up to $45,000, all will be OK. California does not have the worst-in-the-nation homeless crisis because it spends too little.
From what I read and hear, the state has done a lot of temporary fixes and little to solve the problem.
Why can’t the state use some of our military facilities, you know barracks, add a mental health care client, a detox center, job training, and other programs to get the homeless the real help they need and give them housing at the sometime.
I would think that would have cost you and me the taxpayers a lot less money and actually may real help solve the problem.
The problem of homelessness has become intractable under status quo policies.
California has spent $20 billion on homelessness in the last five years, and during this period the number of unhoused persons has increased by nearly 40,000.
It is tempting to conclude from these statistics that the more California spends, the worse homelessness becomes.
Call or text (909) 226-3551 to set an appointment or to ask a real estate question
I sell real estate in Southern California and if the homeless start camping on the parks, streets and around your backyard that the value of your property will go down and the safety of your neighborhoods will become less safe.
As always, this is my opinion
Steve Olmos
Selling real estate in Southern California since 1980
Real estate in our business and our clients by using our serveries keep us in business.
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