County releases plan to tackle homelessness

During Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, the county launched a new plan to tackle homelessness in San Bernardino County.

The 2022 San Bernardino County Homeless Strategic Action Plan revolves around a Homeless to Home Roadmap to Self-Sufficiency and focuses on strengthening the ability of County departments and community partners to make a collective impact toward reducing and preventing homelessness by housing the most at-risk, increasing shelter capacity, and improving the current systems in place to shelter and serve the homeless.

“The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has prioritized creating a community-based plan by inviting stakeholder participation in the process,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “Over 500 people from diverse backgrounds came together to provide input and share their experiences. The County team took this vital feedback to heart and worked towards making a data-driven plan that will help us address homelessness with a compassionate and focused approach.”

The plan sets three ambitious goals:

• In one year, 100 unsheltered high utilizers of services will exit homelessness with 65% entering into stable housing and 35% connected to services to support housing and safety.
• Increase the supply of year-round permanent shelter by 200 beds throughout the county collectively with cities and other partners to accommodate diverse populations.
• Shorten the time it takes to move someone off the streets and into appropriate service connections and appropriate temporary and/or permanent housing with a no wrong door approach.

The County prioritized populations to include individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and living with one or more disabling conditions such as mental illness, substance use disorder, developmental disorders, or physical ill health. The plan also prioritizes those who have frequently interacted with crisis services, the law and justice systems, or the healthcare system.

“The County’s Strategic Action Plan is an important step in the right direction toward tackling the growing homelessness problem in San Bernardino County,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Dawn Rowe. “By working together more effectively and efficiently with our partners, we can increase shelter capacity, utilize more preventive measures, and ensure that our coordinated efforts are focused on helping those who need it most. I look forward to seeing the initial results of this proposal as we continue to develop long-term collaborative solutions to address homelessness.”