REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 10, 2025
FROM
JAMES LOCURTO, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Housing Support Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve contract with the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino to provide California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids housing support services, in an amount not to exceed $16,434,760, for the period of July 1, 2025 through May 31, 2028.
(Presenter: James LoCurto, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The amount of $16,434,760 is 52% federally funded ($8,546,075) and 48% state funded ($7,888,685) by the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Housing Support Program (HSP) Allocation. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2025-26 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets. If funding has declined or been reduced by the Federal Government, then the County can reduce or terminate the contract.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the terms of the recommended non-competitive contract, the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) will provide housing and rental assistance for CalWORKs families who identify themselves as homeless, at risk of homelessness, or whose housing instability would be a barrier to self-sufficiency. Homeless is defined as lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; having a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or in receipt of a judgment for eviction, as ordered by a court.
Based on an estimated average annual cost of $27,334 per family, the $16,434,760 will allow Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) to serve 601 families. The average annual cost per family breaks down into three main categories: financial assistance in the amount of $19,681, case management in the amount of $3,280, and administrative support in the amount of $4,373. Financial assistance includes items such as rent and deposit (first and last month), utilities and utility deposit, moving assistance, storage, childcare, transportation costs, vehicle repairs, education, employment readiness, and miscellaneous costs such as household necessities. Case management and administrative support are required components of the program and include data collection, program management, housing navigation, and inspections.
The CalWORKs HSP targets homeless prevention resources and services by promoting housing stability for families in the CalWORKs program which further supports existing and ongoing San Bernardino County efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness. In certain circumstances, CalWORKs offers participants both temporary and permanent homeless assistance. HSP offers all CalWORKs families HSP assistance regardless of their assets or income levels. Individuals are not precluded from participating in the HSP if they have received homeless assistance benefits previously. Treatment for mental health or substance abuse needs are not a condition of receiving services. From January 2015 to December 31, 2024, the partnership between TAD, HACSB, and HACSB’s affiliate nonprofit, Knowledge and Education for Your Success, Inc. (KEYS), has served 3,708 families, which includes 9,321 children, resulting in the placement of 2,865 households, including 6,810 children, in permanent housing.
Legislation requires that counties use evidence-based models, including those established in the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) Program, in the implementation of the HSP. The goal of HSP is to assist families in quickly obtaining permanent housing and provide wraparound supports to families to foster housing retention. RRH and targeted homelessness prevention programs have been implemented nationwide as cost effective strategies to help families exit or avoid homelessness and retain permanent housing.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) encouraged counties to partner with county and local community-based organizations that are experienced in providing housing services. The County partnered with HACSB to provide RRH and rental assistance services. TAD entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Behavioral Health to provide case management through the Family Stabilization and Life Skills programs.
HACSB has been the largest provider of affordable housing in the County since it was founded in 1941 and is currently serving nearly 27,500 individuals and families. HACSB and KEYS will work with families and private landlords to provide RRH and rental assistance to ensure HUD’s Housing Quality Standards are followed and maintained, and participating families are aware of and understand their tenant rights and responsibilities. Rents are assessed based upon applicable local submarket rents, but do not exceed the local area’s Fair Market Rent established by HUD. Additionally, KEYS will partner with community and faith-based organizations to negotiate and support payment of security deposits, utility assistance, rental assistance, furniture needs, and other housing costs as appropriate to the situation. Extending the partnerships with HACSB and KEYS increases TAD’s coordinated efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness.
The RRH program offers time-limited, individualized financial assistance at a level that enables the family to maintain housing while they seek to increase income; learn to manage a household budget; relocate to affordable housing; and/or reduce expenses to sustain their housing. Rental assistance will be provided in a manner that is intended to prevent families from experiencing a sudden and unmanageable increase in their housing expenses at the end of program assistance.
HACSB’s performance will be measured by reviewing invoices and monthly reports by County staff to monitor compliance with the requirements of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
The Purchasing Department supports the non-competitive nature of a contract with HACSB due to the vendor’s specialized credentials and based on CDSS’ allocation to the County as a result of TAD’s proposal to partner with HACSB in its application for HSP funding. HACSB is the only Housing Authority in the Inland Empire designated under HUD’s Moving to Work Demonstration program, a designation awarded to less than 5% of Housing Authorities nationwide. This designation enables HACSB to implement innovative, cost-effective housing solutions and deliver the specific services required under the Housing Support Services grant.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on May 6, 2025; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 7, 2025; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on May 8, 2025; Finance (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on May 20, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on May 22, 2025.