The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday OK’d funding allocations for a range of health care resources and services to address homelessness.
The county’s Behavioral Health Department is increasing funding by more than $70 million, to nearly $160.4 million, to expand substance use disorder and recovery services provided by community-based organizations, according to Tuesday’s meeting agenda.
The added funds aim to enhance inpatient treatment and clinical services, assisting an estimated 5,888 additional adults and adolescents to receive addiction care in therapeutic settings, a county statement reported. The funding will also increase treatment beds from 169 to 303.
These community-based organizations contract with the Behavioral Health Department to offer addiction treatment services: G and C Swan Inc., Inland Valley Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services Inc., Phoenix House Orange County Inc., Social Science Services Inc., known as Cedar House Life Change Center, and Veteran’s Alcohol Rehabilitation Program Inc.
The boost in funding is supported through Drug Medi-Cal, opioid settlement funds and 2011 realignment funds, officials said.
Department grant awards
The board approved several department grant awards and a reallocation of funding.
- About $1.36 million is in Emergency Solutions Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the county’s Community Development and Housing Department administers and distributed to the county Office of Homeless Services. “This funding will enhance efforts to address homelessness through comprehensive services such as mapping homeless encampments, providing outreach services and case management, funding emergency housing services, and assisting individuals in need with finding permanent housing,” according to the county statement.
- Approximately $1.7 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Strengthening Public Health Infrastructure Grant Program goes to San Bernardino County Public Health in an effort to strengthen the agency’s workforce and create a “stronger infrastructure” to prepare for future public health emergencies through Nov. 20, officials said.
- Approximately $1.7 million in grant funding to Public Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America — Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A through Feb. 28, 2028. “These grant funds will help efforts to reduce new HIV infections in San Bernardino County and provide services for individuals living with HIV in the Inland Empire, including outpatient medical care, case management, and access to essential services such as food and transportation,” according to the county.
- Encampment Resolution Funding totaling $11 million from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to the county’s Office of Homeless Services through April 15, 2029. The funding is for helping to meet immediate physical and mental health, wellness and safety needs for unhoused individuals living in encampments. The grant also supports connecting people experiencing homelessness with housing options and aims to “encourage coordinated and data-driven responses to homelessness and restore public spaces” in an effort to bolster “community well-being,” officials said.
- The state provided $11.8 million from the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program’s Round 5 to the county Office of Homeless Services on behalf of the San Bernardino City and County Continuum of Care for regional coordination and to expand or develop local capacity to address “immediate homelessness challenges” through June 30, 2029, officials said.
“By supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and ensuring that individuals living with HIV have access to high-quality healthcare services and equitable support services, the county is working towards achieving the Countywide Vision,” which is available on the county’s website at cao-vision.sbcounty.gov, the statement said.
Mobile health clinics
The Public Health Department is increasing a roughly $1.3 million contract with M3 Group Inc., known as Mission Mobile Medical Group, by $60,000 to upgrade three mobile health clinics that offer medical and dental services to county residents who have limited access to care and in areas lacking medical and dental facilities.
Two of these mobile clinics will receive new dental equipment, including ambidextrous dental carts, upgraded sterilization instruments and HEPA air filters, officials said. The new equipment will enabling the clinics to provide comprehensive dental care similar to traditional dental offices.
All three mobile clinics will receive Starlink satellite systems to offer reliable internet connectivity, even in remote areas that have limited telecommunication service.
Officials noted the mobile health clinic funding is in line with the Countywide Vision because it aims to ensure that all residents have equitable access to health care resources.
