Less than seven months after the County’s Community Revitalization effort got underway, solid progress is being made on several fronts toward addressing homelessness and creating additional affordable housing opportunities throughout the county.
“Making an impact on homelessness and ensuring the county has an adequate supply of affordable housing options is key to not only assisting those who need a helping hand but to growing our local economy and improving the quality life for all county residents,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman. “That’s why my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and I are committed to investing in, and ensuring the success of, the County’s Community Revitalization effort.”
In June, working at the direction of the Board of Supervisors, County Chief Executive Officer Leonard X. Hernandez assigned an executive-level position to focus full-time on strategic and continuous efforts addressing homelessness in communities across the county. The move was intended to place a concerted focus on the Homeless Strategic Plan and align the homeless population’s health and housing needs to the services provided by the county and its partners.
The effort includes the County Community Development and Housing Department and the County Office of Homeless Services in partnership with several other County departments and offices that have a role in addressing homelessness. The emphasis is on moving quickly and taking advantage of key services while implementing new solutions.
“The team is hard at work developing a strategic plan for homelessness that identifies key metrics and outcomes,” said Deputy Executive Officer Supriya Barrows, who is leading the Community Revitalization effort following the retirement of Assistant Executive Officer CaSonya Thomas after more than 30 years of county service in numerous health and human services roles.
Barrows formerly spearheaded and currently chairs the San Bernardino County Community Vital Signs Initiative Implementation Committee. The Community Vital Signs Initiative operationalizes the Wellness Element of the Countywide Vision.
“In partnership with several community organizations and county departments – including the Sheriff, Behavioral Health, Aging and Adult Services, Public Health, and Probation – we intend to build on the successes achieved by the pandemic-inspired Project Roomkey and Project Homekey and make serious progress toward addressing homelessness throughout San Bernardino County,” Barrows said.
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