San Bernardino County hosted a recent tour of two major affordable housing communities in the valley region by state Housing Secretary Tomiquia Moss, officials announced Friday.
The visit highlighted local efforts to expand affordable housing and strengthen collaboration with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency that Moss leads.
She toured Pacific Village, which officials described as one of the county’s flagship revitalization projects. Pacific Village received $69 million in state funding.
Moss also went to Arrowhead Grove, “a transformative mixed-income development in the heart of San Bernardino,” according to the county. The Arrowhead Grove project received $15.8 million from the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program.
During her visit, Moss viewed recent progress at both sites and met with local officials and housing services providers to discuss the county’s affordable housing needs.
“Communities across California are working hard to meet the moment, and San Bernardino County is demonstrating what strong collaboration can deliver, Secretary Moss said in a statement. “The state is committed to supporting local partners as we expand affordable housing, strengthen neighborhoods and ensure that families have access to safe, stable places to call home.”
County supervisors echoed Moss’ emphasis on partnerships and the role they play in advancing housing initiatives that serve residents.
“Our communities benefit when all levels of government collaborate, and Friday’s visit highlighted the progress underway and reaffirmed our shared commitment to supporting the residents who depend on these housing investments,” Board Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement.
Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Joe Baca Jr., whose 5th District includes Pacific Village and Arrowhead Grove, said in a statement, “These projects show the power of strong partnerships to bring dignity and opportunity back into our neighborhoods. When we work together, we’re not just building housing, we’re creating second chances for families who deserve stability, support and a real path forward.”
Moss’ tour concluded with a roundtable discussion that included county and city officials along with nonprofit and private-sector contractors on long-term strategies for housing stability. Attendees included officials from the county Community Development and Housing Department, the county Housing Authority, representatives from the city of San Bernardino and “regional development and service partners” who work on local housing initiatives, officials said.
“We appreciate Secretary Moss for visiting San Bernardino County and recognizing the hard work our team and partners have put into ensuring housing is accessible, safe and supportive for the families who call our communities home,” District 2 Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, who attended the tour and has similar housing projects in his district, said in a statement.
According to the Housing Authority, affordable housing initiatives include rental vouchers, five-year rental assistance and “streamlined” lease assistance reducing rents by roughly 25%, transitional housing initiatives for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and the Public Housing Program at the Housing Authority-owned 98-unit apartment building and one single family home.
More information on affordable housing in San Bernardino County is available on the Housing Authority’s website.
In September state officials reported spending over $1.62 billion to support the development of 12,676 affordable homes statewide since 2020 expected to serve 248,993 Californians. Moss and Gov. Gavin Newsom announced $414 million in grants this year to municipal governments for another 2,099 new homes, with 2,068 reserved for low- to extremely low-income Californians.
“Over $400 million committed to communities across the state will expedite and expand opportunities to build affordable housing and make much-needed infrastructure improvements,” Moss said in a statement. “These awards will galvanize the collective public-private response to serve low-income households, including seniors, Veterans, large families and residents with special needs, and accelerate climate and health outcomes in neighborhoods across California.”
Additional information on the state’s housing initiatives is online at bcsh.ca.gov/housing/index.html.
