San Bernardino County joined local partners to celebrate the grand opening of the Kern Street Adult Residential Facility in Muscoy, which officials on Thursday called a vital addition to the county’s behavioral health housing system.
The new 30-bed licensed residential care facility was the site of a grand opening event June 25. The facility provides housing and supportive services for adults 18 and older with serious mental illness who need a structured living environment as they work toward greater independence and long-term stability.
Helping Hearts California developed the facility with funding from the county, which spent $2.5 million in state grant funding and leveraged nearly $1.7 million from a grant program by the Inland Empire Health Plan and Molina Healthcare, county officials said. The Kern Street project follows the Board of Supervisors’ strategy to address homelessness by increasing housing capacity, strengthening the local continuum of care and enhancing support for residents facing complex challenges.
The facility operates under contract with the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and spans four buildings on a 33,158-square-foot campus, according to the county. Three newly constructed manufactured homes, a remodeled residence and a shared community space are on the site.
Kern Street residents receive 24-hour supervised care and access to a variety of services such as structured daily programming, life-skills development, vocational training, community reintegration support, behavioral health treatment and medical care.
“This facility represents an important investment in our county’s behavioral health system,” Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “By expanding residential care capacity, we are providing residents with greater access to the housing, care and support they need to thrive and maintain long-term stability.”
Vice Chair and 5th District Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. said in a statement, “San Bernardino County is committed to building a behavioral health system that meets people where they are and gives them a real path forward. Kern Street is a tangible example of what happens when the county invests in the right partners and the right solutions. This facility will make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and in the health of the Muscoy community.”
Officials said the facility resulted from years of planning and coordination involving the health plans, Helping Hearts California, the county Board of Supervisors and county departments including Behavioral Health, Public Health, Aging and Adult Services — Public Guardian, the Sheriff’s Department and Community Development and Housing.
“Opening Kern Street is a milestone that reflects everything Helping Hearts California was built to do, to provide compassionate, high-quality residential care for individuals who need it most, and do it in genuine partnership with the community,” Josh LaBarge, Helping Hearts California board member, said in a statement. “On behalf of the board of directors, I want to recognize the extraordinary collaboration that made this facility possible. This is what responsible, community-centered development looks like, and we are proud to be part of it.”
More information about the Kern Street Facility is available by calling 909-292-8997 or emailing info@hhca.net.
Muscoy is an unincorporated community just northwest of the city of San Bernardino.
