ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The Comptroller’s Office released reports auditing the state’s oversight of homeless shelters and services. Homelessness in the state more than doubled in the last few years, per the Comptroller, and the audits found that the state continues to fall short.
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli issued the audits as follow-ups to two previous reports that had shown limited progress by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in addressing long-standing issues with shelter conditions and client support services.
One audit, “Oversight of Homeless Shelters,” examined OTDA’s efforts to improve shelter conditions after the previous audit found widespread health and safety risks. Sixty percent of the 159 shelters visited had unsatisfactory conditions, with structural damage, mold, vermin and bug infestations, and broken smoke detectors.
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The follow-up found that OTDA implemented five of eight recommendations from the Comptroller’s Office, partially implemented a sixth, and didn’t implement the remaining two. For example, OTDA updated its inspection policies and checklists in 2024 and now tracks corrective action plans in a shelter management system…