Start with the answers, then follow the sources or read the full story for dates, records and the office’s response.
During her 2022 campaign for California State Controller, Cohen identified homelessness spending as a subject for scrutiny, alongside EDD and the DMV. That commitment is the starting point for comparing her campaign language with her office’s record. [1]
Her office reported no homelessness audits in October 2026. Cohen cited denied funding; the request covered high-risk audits generally, not homelessness specifically. [3]
The April 9, 2024 report reviewed five programs. Homekey and CalWORKs Housing Support appeared likely to be cost-effective. Three other programs lacked enough outcome data to assess their cost-effectiveness. This was the State Auditor’s work, separate from Cohen’s Controller’s Office. [2]
The Controller’s Office paused claim evaluation from July 21 through September 3, 2025 while replacing its computer system. Claim-status information was unavailable during the pause. The public website was also offline from August 20 through September 3, when the new system launched. [7]
The New York Post reported on October 8, 2026 that foreign investors accused Cohen’s office and contractors Kroll and Kelmar of changing address records before taking and selling their shares. Cohen is a named defendant. These are allegations in a lawsuit, not a court finding. [3]
The budget lists $1,559,883,000 in abandoned-property General Fund revenue for 2024–25. That figure is total revenue in that category, not interest alone. A separate state law directs investment earnings from the Unclaimed Property Fund to the General Fund on the Controller’s order. [16] [17]
ClaimIt.ca.gov is the state’s official search and claims website. Search for your name or business and follow the instructions for the property listed. The site also carries notices about the system conversion and claim processing. [8]
Cohen took office on January 2, 2023 after winning the November 2022 election. Before that, she served on the California State Board of Equalization and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. [2] [1]
Cohen earned a political science degree at Fisk University and a master’s in public policy and management at Carnegie Mellon in 2008. Her official biography describes financial oversight through elected office, including tax administration, San Francisco’s budget committee and its retirement board. [1] [6]
It is a tax board. Its work includes property-tax administration and consistency in assessments across California’s 58 counties. Cohen served as an elected member from 2019 to 2023 and remains a voting member through her role as State Controller. [3] [14] [1]
Power Forward worked in social media and public policy. CalMatters’ 2022 candidate profile described Cohen’s work for clients as writing blog posts, opinion pieces and editorials. Her consulting work is covered separately from her public-service positions in the biography above. [10]