County departments collaborate to transform a woman’s life

The Office of Homeless Services officially launches its second episode of the “Pathways to Shelter” video series.

The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is pleased to present the second episode of the Pathways to Shelter video series featuring a collaboration between the San Bernardino County Community Development and Housing Department (CDH) and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The Pathways to Shelter video series is part of a larger effort led by OHS to showcase the coordinated work that is being done to support individuals experiencing homelessness.

This episode focuses on Lucia Silva’s journey towards overcoming homelessness. She grew up in Los Angeles County with her mother and father before moving to San Bernardino at the age of 21 to live with her grandmother. She eventually met someone who became her boyfriend, and he moved in with her and her grandmother. She also had children during this time.

According to Silva, her relationship was unstable in many ways. This led to both Silva and her boyfriend being evicted from her grandmother’s apartment, and Silva’s children moving in with her parents. After being evicted, Silva said she had no other choice but to live on the streets.

She ended up living in the Santa Ana riverbed in the San Bernardino and Highland area, which she described as terrifying and extremely dangerous. She had to be constantly vigilant about potential abuse, especially as a female.

In addition to the challenges of living in the Santa Ana riverbed, she also struggled with the pain of being separated from her children.

“I left my children behind because I didn’t want them to be subjected to the way I was living,” said Silva. “Not having them in my life was very difficult, and my decision to leave them with family haunted me every day. However, I knew they were safe.”

After some time of living in the riverbed, her life began to turn around when the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement (H.O.P.E.) Team found her during one of their routine Operation Shelter Me visits, which aims to connect unsheltered individuals with housing, medical and mental health treatment services.

After working with the H.O.P.E. Team to complete the necessary steps to qualify for a housing voucher, she eventually moved into an affordable housing property that was developed by CDH.

“CDH plays an integral role in addressing homelessness,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Jones, a member of the H.O.P.E. Team. “They provide affordable housing to families and individuals that truly need it.”

Aside from the property that Silva lives in, CDH has also developed other affordable housing projects such as Bloomington Grove and Lillian Court, Horizons at Yucaipa, Siena Apartments in Fontana, and Pacific Village in San Bernardino, a 28-bed interim housing project that will soon expand to include 58 permanent supportive housing units.

“Our mission is to better the lives of individuals and the communities they live in by strategically investing and leveraging local, state and federal resources to revitalize our communities,” said CDH Director Carrie Harmon. “We’re grateful for the H.O.P.E. Team’s homeless outreach efforts and we’re proud to play a role in Lucia’s journey by providing her with a safe and stable home through one of our affordable housing projects.”

Since moving into the property, Silva has been able to rebuild her life by finding employment and reuniting with her children.

“I truly believe that I am a miracle,” said Silva. “At one point, I couldn’t see any hope for myself but today I know there’s hope. I want to thank Deputy Mike Jones, 211, my counselor and CDH for supporting me. More importantly, I want to thank God for the many blessings I have been given along this journey.”

Silva is currently a caregiver and intends to return to school so that she can become a guidance counselor to support at-risk youth.

For more information about affordable housing in San Bernardino County, please visit cdh.sbcounty.gov/affordable-housing-projects. If you know someone who is struggling with homelessness, please call 909-501-0610.

This testimony is just one of many that will be shared in a series of stories that aim to educate the public about homelessness and to keep the public informed about the county’s efforts to address homelessness.

Additional County Update News – April 10, 2025