Report 2021-114 Recommendation 8 Responses

Report 2021-114: State Surplus Property: The State Should Use Its Available Property More Effectively to Help Alleviate the Affordable Housing Crisis (Release Date: March 2022)

Recommendation #8 To: General Services, Department of

To increase the number of properties offered for affordable housing annually and to conduct a periodic review of all state owned properties, DGS should seek additional staffing as appropriate to provide dedicated support to the program, either by transferring existing positions or seeking a budget change for additional positions.

1-Year Agency Response

In September of 2022, DGS hired one additional Senior Real Estate Officer. Another Senior Real Estate Officer who will work on affordable housing is expected to be hired in March of 2023.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented

DGS reports that it has added a staff member to support its work in affordable housing, and that it plans to add another staff member in 2023.

6-Month Agency Response

As part of the FY 2022-23 Budget Act, DGS was provided position and expenditure authority for two Senior Real Estate Officer- Specialists to work on the EO. While a funding source for these positions is still being determined, DGS contemplates filling the positions, at which time there will be five professional real estate staff working on DGS' housing program.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

These conversations are ongoing, subject to the deliberative budget process.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2021-114

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.