City continues to fall behind in tracking homeless encampment expense

A recently completed audit follow-up report reveals that Denver has improved its responses to homeless encampments, but significant risks remain. Key issues include inadequate tracking of expenses related to encampment responses, lack of contract oversight, and insufficient equitable access to services for the homeless population. Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien expressed concern over the city's ongoing inability to monitor expenses effectively, which could lead to misallocation of taxpayer dollars. Out of 36 recommendations made in the initial audit, only six have been fully implemented, while 11 have not been addressed at all.

The report also highlights the absence of designated staff to oversee contracts and review invoices, further complicating the city's efforts to manage these services effectively. Furthermore, the Mayor’s Office has yet to conduct a needs assessment for the property storage facility, which is essential for ensuring equitable access. O’Brien stressed the importance of addressing these outstanding issues, especially as the city transitions to the new All in Mile High program. The Auditor’s Office plans to continue monitoring the situation and may revisit these areas of risk in future audits.