State awards $10 million in housing funds to expand support in San Bernardino County

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Two individuals engage in conversation with a homeless person who is standing by a tent in an encampment area. — *Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. (right) engages with a homeless individual during the 2026 Point-in-Time Count.*

San Bernardino County and the San Bernardino City and County Continuum of Care (CoC) will receive $10 million in the sixth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to expand permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness and strengthen efforts to prevent homelessness.

The funding will support converting underutilized buildings and existing interim housing into permanent housing. It will also fund services such as street outreach, intensive case management, housing navigation, harm reduction services, rental assistance, security deposits and more.

“This funding is an important investment in our comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., chair of the CoC Board. “It will expand permanent housing for people who need it most while also strengthening prevention efforts so fewer people fall into homelessness. Ultimately, these resources will help San Bernardino County and its partners better support individuals and families on the path to stable housing.”

San Bernardino County and the San Bernardino City and County CoC, comprised of city, county, and nonprofit representatives, submitted a joint application to secure the funds.

“We are grateful to our city and community partners for joining us in this effort,” said the county’s Office of Homeless Services Chief Marcus Dillard. “This partnership allows us to make a real difference in providing housing and support to San Bernardino County’s most vulnerable residents.”

San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran, whose office participated in community meetings that helped shape the grant application, emphasized the importance of collaboration.

“These funds will directly improve lives across our community and help more families achieve stability,” said Tran. “The city of San Bernardino is proud to be a partner with the county and local organizations on this effort.”

CoC Vice Chair Shanikqua “Shaq” Freeman, executive director of Knowledge and Education for Your Success, noted the impact this funding will have on local residents in need.

“This award is a result of strong collaboration between the county, city partners and local organizations,” said Freeman. “These resources will help residents get the support they need and make meaningful progress toward independence.”

Program Manager Za Zette Scott of Family Assistance Program, who also participated in community meetings in support of the grant application, said the collaboration reflects the shared commitment of the county, city partners and nonprofits to tackle homelessness.

“This collaborative effort demonstrates how the county, city partners and nonprofits can work together to address complex community challenges,” said Scott. “By working together, we can create opportunities that help people rebuild their lives and strengthen our community as a whole.”

According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in the county decreased by 10.2 percent compared to the previous year. County leaders attribute the decrease to expanded outreach efforts and increased state and federal funding aimed at combating homelessness. Continued support through grants such as HHAP help sustain this progress. For more information on the county and the CoC’s efforts to address homelessness, please visit https://sbchp.sbcounty.gov/.

Additional County Update News – March 19, 2026