Diminishing and Preventing Homelessness: A Managerial Audit of Santa Clara County Nonprofit Organizations Addressing Homelessness

While the problem of homelessness intensifies in the United States, the search for solutions becomes increasingly crucial. As the number of homeless people in Santa Clara County, California continues to surge, various sections of government and nonprofit organizations have intensified their search for ways to reduce the problem. There have been many proposed ideas for a solution, such as policy options and emergency measures to address local crises. For example, the city of San Jose, California, has opened a “bridged housing” community, allocating 80 tiny homes with beds, a desk, and air conditioning in two locations to serve as temporary shelters for homeless people who need a safe place to stay until they secure a permanent place to live. The City Council in San Jose transformed a shuttered Plaza Hotel into a temporary shelter for homeless people. In this research, there is no intention to assess government agencies or complex social and personal processes. Instead, the intention is to evaluate 12 nonprofit organizations and produce a managerial audit of their systematic developments that help the homeless community in Santa Clara County, California. How do Santa Clara County nonprofit agencies address the goal of eliminating homelessness through direct services or direct action? How do these agencies apportion their income (what percent do they spend) among their budget items in categories of administration, fundraising, and direct services