The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved nearly $10 million in federal funding for housing and community development programs for the upcoming fiscal year.
Officials said the funds will pay for affordable housing development, neighborhood infrastructure improvements, homelessness services and public service programs intended to benefit low- and moderate-income residents in the county’s participating 13 cities and unincorporated areas.
The spending plan, which the board OK’d with a 5-0 vote without discussion, includes funding for affordable rental housing that officials expect to create approximately 105 new units. The new housing will include 22 residences dedicated for transitional-age youth, as well as programs ranging from homelessness prevention and emergency shelter to transportation, child care and services for older adults, according to a county staff report.
The funding includes about $6.5 million through the Community Development Block Grant program, $2.9 million via the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and a $588,000 Emergency Solutions Grant, officials said.
The 13 cities that get a share of the county’s HUD funding are Adelanto, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Redlands, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa and the Town of Yucca Valley. The County administers CDBG and ESG funds on behalf of these communities.
“The cities of Chino Hills and Rancho Cucamonga participate exclusively in the HOME program and, together with the county and participating cities, form the HOME Consortium for administration of HOME funds,” according to the staff report.
About $1.6 million in CDBG funds will go to the cities based on HUD’s formula based on current data, while approximately $3 million will support projects in unincorporated areas.
“These investments focus on capital improvements in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, including accessibility upgrades, infrastructure rehabilitation, and public facility improvements that enhance safety and quality of life,” Robert Gilliam, acting director of community development and housing, reported. “Public service activities will also support homelessness prevention and transitional housing, food and nutrition programs, transportation, childcare, senior services, and job training for income-eligible youth, seniors, and veterans.”
HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grant aims to help strengthen the county’s coordinated response to homelessness by supporting street outreach, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention and related data collection efforts, according to the report.
