The San Bernardino County Children and Family Services Department received a $2.82 million state grant aimed at bolstering housing stability for young adults, particularly those transitioning out of foster care or probation.
The funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development includes $1.6 million for the Transitional Housing Program and $1.2 million for the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program.
County officials said the grants will support nearly 150 young adults ages 18-24 by providing assistance in securing and maintaining housing.
The programs will also employ “housing navigators” to assist youth in finding stable housing and overcoming obstacles to living independently. The funding will also pay for county social workers and probation officers to receive specialized training that enables them to better identify housing instability and more effectively connect young adults with housing resources.
“The training shall address an overview of the housing resources available through the local coordinated entry system, homeless continuum of care, and county public agencies, including, but not limited to, housing navigation, permanent affordable housing, Transitional Housing Program-Plus, and housing choice vouchers,” according to the state-county funding agreement. “The training shall also address how to access and receive a referral to existing housing resources, the social worker’s and probation officer’s role in identifying unstable housing situations for youth and referring youth to housing assistance programs.”
The program funding is through June 30, 2027.
