San Bernardino County has finalized a land purchase from the city of Fontana to establish a regional center with 100 shelter beds, 100 recuperative care beds and supportive services, officials said Tuesday.
County supervisors approved the nearly $11.7 million purchase agreement for the property at 11109 Jasmine St. in Fontana and an agreement with partner cities that establishes a framework for operating the facility, including funding for ongoing operations.
“The board’s action on this agenda item moves us closer to opening a navigation center that will provide critical support for people experiencing homelessness,” Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “It will connect individuals to the resources they need to gain stability and thrive.”
The navigation center will serve county residents experiencing homelessness in areas represented by Vice Chair and 5th District Supervisor Joe Baca Jr., 2nd District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez and 4th District Supervisor Curt Hagman.
“The West End Regional Navigation Center reflects our commitment to expanding services and creating real pathways to stable housing,” Baca said in a statement. “By aligning our resources and efforts, we’ll be able to deliver a stronger and more comprehensive response that will ensure people experiencing homelessness get the care and support they need.”
County officials are currently in the final stages of choosing an outside agency to manage and staff the facility, according to Armendarez. After selecting an operator for the center, the next phase will focus on tenant improvements needed to prepare the site for service delivery targeted for early 2027.
“This navigation center is a major step in the right direction for the West End, and I am proud to have worked to move this effort forward,” Armendarez said in a statement. “Our communities deserve a coordinated, practical response to homelessness, and that is exactly what this project is designed to deliver.”
Hagman said he was “pleased we’re moving forward with this vital project to provide essential services to those in need. This represents a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to help individuals and families gain stability and secure permanent housing.”
The new regional center “will give individuals a real opportunity to regain stability while also helping our local communities address homelessness in a more effective and responsible way,” Armendarez added.
Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren said the land deal shows the city-county commitment to partnerships that expand housing solutions for people experiencing homelessness.
“This partnership shows what’s possible when local governments work together toward a shared goal,” Warren said in a statement. “It advances our regional efforts to expand housing support and enhance coordination in addressing homelessness.”
The cities of Chino, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Upland each will contribute between $200,000 and $3,000 for startup costs and annual operating expenses, and the county will leverage federal and state funding to reimburse the cost of services, documents show. Fontana’s annual share for operating costs is $1 million, and the county will pay $475,000.
The facilty will operate as a “low-barrier shelter,” which means no requirements for sobriety, income level or identification, and serve individuals on a referral-only basis through the county’s coordinated entry system, officials said. In addition to a temporary place to stay, the navigation center will offer behavioral health services, medical care, case management, transportation assistance and housing placement.
The project came about through discussions that took place during the San Bernardino County Homeless Ad Hoc Committee meetings, which were co-chaired by Baca and Hagman. Committee members identified the need for the county and cities to have a shared strategy to reduce unsheltered homelessness and determined that the most effective approach was for all municipalities to jointly establish a regional navigation center.
“Through this partnership, the county and cities will reduce costs, leverage existing resources and strengthen regional collaboration,” officials said.
