The San Bernardino County Supervisors approved roughly $8.7 million Tuesday to expand supportive housing that prevents homelessness.
A project to expand the Pacific Village housing complex in San Bernardino received $3 million, bringing the project’s budget to approximately $17.8 million, according to the county. The funding approved Tuesday is a grant from the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to support outdoor gathering areas, covered pedestrian pathways, campuswide “wayfinding systems” and therapeutic landscaping. Officials said the design aims “to strengthen resident wellness, service integration and community connection.”
Approximately $5.7 million in funds from the state’s Homekey program goes to a housing development at 450 N. G St. in San Bernardino. The funding will pay for property management, security, maintenance and other operating costs “that help provide housing stability for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness,” according to a county statement.
The county established a facility to provide interim housing for residents experiencing homelessness with the purchase of the nearly 7-acre Pacific Village Campus for $3.4 million using Homekey Round 1 funds, county staff reported. The land acquisition included six permanent buildings — one three-bedroom, two-bathroom home; two apartments; an administration building; a dining hall with a kitchen; former church facilities; along with 20 residential trailers and on-site parking.
Phase I of the project opened in March 2021, providing 28 individual living spaces to house individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pacific Village will be part of the roughly $53 million “multi-use collective partnership” between the county Community Development and Housing Department, the Department of Aging and Adult Services, the Department of Behavioral Health and third-party managers to expand “access to a safe home environment and resources for overall wellness and self-sufficiency,” county staff reported.
“Each department will use designated funding sources for its respective portions of the campus,” according to the report. “The Pacific Village Campus will contain communal areas for persons and pets throughout the grounds such as a laundry facility, sitting areas, shaded spaces, and pet relief areas.”
G Street housing
In response to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and the need to offer more housing options for unhoused residents, the county sought to purchase and convert existing hotel properties with funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Homekey Program, according to a county staff report.
Such was the case at 450 N. G St. in San Bernardino, formerly the All Star Lodge.
The county jointly applied with developer Shangri-La Industries LLC, 450 G Street LP and Step Up on Second Inc. for Homekey funding to acquire and convert the property into housing for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, officials reported.
Supervisors approved a deal with the state and the developer for use of the state funds for a housing facility that included Homekey-mandated affordability and occupancy restrictions.
“Subsequently, the developer defaulted on its obligations under the Homekey Standard Agreement,” according to the staff report to the board.
In January 2024, HCD filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County against Shangri-La Industries, alleging breach of contract and related claims. San Bernardino County and other parties were also named as defendants.
“To resolve the litigation and protect the public investment, the parties negotiated a settlement that led to the County’s acquisition of the Property,” officials reported.
On April 8, the county acquired the G Street location and “immediately began incurring costs to stabilize … operations, including property management, security, and other operating expenses necessary to maintain safe and stable living conditions for residents and preserve the property while planning for substantial rehabilitation,” officials reported. “These conditions have created significant ongoing operating pressures that exceed routine property management expenses. While rental revenue is anticipated to offset a portion of these costs, operating expenses exceed projected revenues.”
