San Bernardino County volunteers complete homelessness count

Hundreds of volunteers, county employees and officials completed the annual San Bernardino County Point-in-Time count Thursday to collect data that guides federal funding to assist the county’s residents experiencing homelessness. 

The county’s PITC team consisted of members of the Board of Supervisors, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Josie Gonzales, employees from various county departments, community groups, homeless service providers, stakeholders and individuals. They canvassed cities, towns and unincorporated communities “to support the unhoused and collect data,” according to a county statement.

“Addressing homelessness is among our top priorities,” Board of Supervisors Chair and 2rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful to have our county departments, community partners and volunteers come together to make the annual count a successful effort.”  

A new aspect of this year’s homelessness census was the county Office of Homeless Services’ collaboration with county and community-based service providers to send outreach workers to connect people who are unhoused with supportive services and shelter, officials said.

A Health and Safety Fair also took place Thursday. The OHS and the city of Colton hosted the event that provided people experiencing homelessness with access to showers, health and dental exams, vaccinations, behavioral health services, information on animal care services and help enrolling in the Medi-Cal and CalFresh state assistance programs. 

“The annual count is more than just about collecting data,” OHS Chief Marcus Dillard said in a statement. “It’s also about connecting the homeless community to housing, healthcare, mental health support and other services to help them get back on their feet.” 

Data from the 2024 PITC showed county residents who were unhoused totaled 4,237, which grew 1% compared with the previous year. In 2023, the homeless population jumped 26% and grew 6.6% in 2022. 

“Ultimately, last year’s results indicate progress in addressing this issue,” officials said. 

The annual count is key to securing grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused. 

Officials said results from the 2025 count will be released in the coming months. 

Sheriff’s team refers 30 people to assistance programs in Victorville

The sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement, or Hope Team conducted Operation Shelter Me in Victorville on Jan. 17 from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., in an effort to connect county staff members with unhoused residents, the county announced.

Unhoused residents were offered housing and medical and mental health treatment. 

“During this operation, the team focused on individuals with significant mental illnesses to link them to restorative mental health pathways,” according to a county statement. 

 Officials  highlighted these results of the outreach effort: The HOPE Team located 41 individuals experiencing homelessness; 30 people got referrals to assistance programs; 21 individuals received follow-up professional services; and 2 people were connected with housing placement.

In June 2023, San Bernardino County opted into Laura’s Law and its Assisted Outpatient Treatment program. The law “provides opportunities for court-ordered community treatment pathways for individuals with histories of hospitalization, incarceration or violence,” officials said. 

During the sheriff’s department operation this month, three individuals were identified as candidates for assisted outpatient treatment. 

The HOPE Team and other county outreach units will do similar operations throughout the next year, “thanks to Community Concerns funding,” officials said. “This special funding, approved by the Board of Supervisors, allows the Sheriff’s Department to address topics of concern to local communities, such as homelessness and mental illness.”

Officials asked the public to contact the HOPE Team at 909-387-0623 or hope@sbcsd.org to report people experiencing homelessness who need services. 

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