San Jose’s homeless support system is about as functional as a tech startup’s first MVP - which is to say, not functional at all.

A recent city audit has revealed a jaw-dropping cascade of administrative incompetence that would make even the most patient nonprofit worker want to rage-quit. The Housing Department has been playing fast and loose with millions of dollars, essentially treating homeless support programs like a game of bureaucratic musical chairs.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s break down the embarrassing stats: San Jose has a staggering 5,500 unsheltered homeless individuals, but only 30 outreach workers. That’s roughly 180 homeless people per worker - a ratio that screams “we’re not even trying”.

The Accountability Circus

Top homeless service providers like PATH, LifeMoves, and HomeFirst have been consistently missing performance targets. Their excuses? Staffing issues, worker shortages, and what seems like a collective shrug. The city’s response? A tepid “we’ll do better next time” attitude that would make Silicon Valley startup founders cringe.

Follow the Money

The most mind-blowing part? San Jose has spent over $302 million on homeless supportive services, with $120 million coming from state and federal governments. Yet they can’t even track where all that money is going. It’s like watching a tech company burn through venture capital, except these are real human lives we’re talking about.

City Councilmember Bien Doan didn’t mince words, basically calling out the system’s profound lack of transparency. And honestly? He’s not wrong.