"The 15,000 data is from the annual “Service Utilization Reports” compiled from all of the homeless services providers throughout the state. And it is still known to be inaccurate and a low count, because the only agencies that report the numbers are ones that get funding from the state. So non funded organizations, churches and a number of others are not required to report their data."

Translation, those feeding at the public trough justify their state funding by manufacturing statistics.  Perchance do the one reports codify their salaries and personal expenses?