City of San Bernardino Receives $35 Million
to Build Housing for Homeless
The City of San Bernardino has received nearly $35 million Project Homekey grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to provide interim housing for chronically homeless men in the City. It the largest grant awarded during the current round of Homekey funding and is believed to be the largest competitive grant the City of San Bernardino has ever received.
“This is a big win for San Bernardino. It allows us to continue making strides to address homelessness in the City and provide essential support to our homeless population,” said San Bernardino City Manager Charles Montoya.
The funds, totaling $34,944,702, will be used by San Bernardino to construct an interim housing facility for up to 140 individuals in partnership with site operator Lutheran Social Services of Southern California and developer Dignity Moves.
“San Bernardino is helping the state address homelessness by delivering a unique Homekey project,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Their Community Wellness Campus is a creative approach that will serve individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. The work and partnership behind this effort demonstrates what is possible when people think outside of the box and refuse to accept the status quo.”
The San Bernardino Community Wellness Campus will be located at the existing Lutheran Social Services campus on G Street. It will include 140 new modular housing units serving chronically homeless men. Residents can stay for up to 180 days as they transition into permanent housing. The campus will include an on-site federally qualified health clinic, as well as provide case management, behavioral health treatment, job training & placement, rehabilitation services, and long term-housing assistance.
“I am thrilled that the City of San Bernardino and Lutheran Social Services of Southern California have been awarded this funding through Project HomeKey,” said Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services. “This not only provides a significant boost to this project, but it underscores our commitment to providing shelter, vital services, and making a lasting difference in the lives of the unsheltered individuals in San Bernardino.”
Project Homekey was launched in 2020 as an extension of Project Roomkey, which provided emergency motel rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Homekey funds the construction or conversion of buildings including hotels, apartments, manufactured homes and commercial properties into permanent or interim housing, supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
“Homekey continues to serve as a model for communities confronting the crisis of homelessness,” said California HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “It has redefined how we can efficiently and rapidly create quality housing to aid Californians in transitioning away from life on the streets.”
Funding for Project Homekey comes from the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA), which was passed by Congress in 2021, and the State General Fund. To date, the program has funded over 14,600 homes across California.
“One of the main goals of ARPA was to help ensure that everyone in our community could have a roof over their heads,” said Congressman Pete Aguilar, who represents the San Bernardino area. “I’m proud that nearly $35 million is coming to the City of San Bernardino to help tackle the housing crisis.”
The project is estimated to be completed by spring of 2025.
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