REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 21, 2026
FROM
ROBERT GILLIAM, Acting Director, Community Development and Housing
SUBJECT
Title
Proposed Program Year 2026-27 Annual Action Plan and Substantial Amendment to the Program Year 2019-20 Annual Action Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Conduct a public hearing to:
a. Review the proposed Program Year 2026-27 Annual Action Plan for the County’s application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for $9,362,472 in entitlement grants from the Community Development Block Grant program, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant program, including the list of recommended projects that best meet identified community development needs under the three grant programs;
b. Review a Substantial Amendment to the Program Year 2019-20 Annual Action Plan to reprogram $425,000 of United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant funding for senior services; and,
c. Obtain citizens’ comments on the proposed 2026-27 Annual Action Plan and Substantial Amendment to the Program Year 2019-20 Annual Action Plan.
2. Consider any necessary changes to the proposed 2026-27 Annual Action Plan and the Substantial Amendment to the Program Year 2019-20 Annual Action Plan, approve the Substantial Amendment to the Program Year 2019-20 Annual Action Plan and direct the Community Development and Housing Department to return to the Board of Supervisors on May 5, 2026 with the final 2026-27 Annual Action Plan for consideration prior to submittal to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(Presenter: Robert Gilliam, Acting Director, 382-3983)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). San Bernardino County’s (County) 2026-27 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant allocation is estimated to be $9,362,472. Of this amount, $6,018,291 is for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which includes the allocation for both the County and cooperating cities; $2,782,428 is for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME); and $561,753 is for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Community Development and Housing Department (CDH) 2026-27 Recommended Budget.
|
Grant Fund |
2026-27 Estimated Allocation |
|
CDBG |
$6,018,291 |
|
HOME |
$2,782,428 |
|
ESG |
$561,753 |
|
Total |
$9,362,472 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CDH administers federal and state programs that expand affordable housing, strengthen neighborhoods, improve public facilities, and provide essential services to low- and moderate-income residents throughout the county. The County has received annual funding from HUD since 1975.
The Program Year (PY) 2026-27 HUD Annual Action Plan (Action Plan) identifies the proposed use of federal CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds for the upcoming program year. In addition, the Action Plan implements the priorities and goals established in the County’s 2025-30 HUD Consolidated Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on April 29, 2025 (Item No. 25). Submission of the Action Plan to HUD is required for the County to receive its annual allocation.
During the PY, additional CDBG and HOME program income may become available and will be allocated to eligible activities. Any substantial reallocation of funds will be brought to the Board for approval.
HUD classifies the County as an Entitlement Urban County, consisting of the unincorporated areas and participating cities, known as Cooperating Cities. Under the current structure, 13 Cooperating Cities have entered into cooperation agreements with the County to participate in the County’s CDBG, HOME, and ESG programs: Adelanto, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Colton, Grand Terrace, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Redlands, Twentynine Palms, Yucaipa, and the Town of Yucca Valley. The cities of Chino Hills and Rancho Cucamonga elected to participate only in the HOME program. Together these cities form the CDBG, HOME and ESG Consortium.
The PY 2026-27 CDBG allocation is proportionately distributed between the Cooperating Cities and the County’s unincorporated areas. Approximately $1.7 million will be allocated to the Cooperating Cities based on a HUD formula using current census data. The County’s share is approximately $4.3 million and will support eligible projects and programs, as well as administrative costs associated with program implementation and ongoing administration. CDBG funds are used for public facility and street infrastructure improvement projects, homelessness prevention, transitional housing services, food distribution, transportation, childcare, and job training for eligible youth, seniors, and veterans.
For PY 2026-27, CDBG funds are prioritized for capital improvement projects in low- and moderate-income communities, with emphasis on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility, infrastructure rehabilitation, and public facility improvements that enhance safety, mobility, and quality of life. Public service funding will support homeless services, food and nutrition programs, senior services, and other assistance to vulnerable populations. Separate Notices of Funding Availability were issued for city and County projects, and each submitted project was evaluated for eligibility. City projects were also ranked based on established criteria to help inform recommendations to the respective city councils. All recommended city projects received Council approval. County projects were recommended based on available funding, identified need and countywide impact. Recommended CDBG projects are included in Attachments A and B to the Board item. Administrative funding is not reflected in the attachments as they are allocated separately in accordance with program requirements.
HOME funds will be allocated through partnerships with qualified housing developers, nonprofit organizations, and County departments. Funds support new construction of affordable rental housing for low and very low-income households within the HOME Consortium and unincorporated areas. In alignment with the County’s strategic priority to expand the supply of safe, stable, and affordable housing, CDH anticipates receiving approximately $2.8 million in HOME funds. Of this total, approximately $2.3 million is being strategically directed to a high-impact affordable rental housing development as described in Attachment C to the Board item. This project will create approximately 106 new affordable housing units, including 22 dedicated units for Transitional-Age Youth (TAY), with the remaining units serving low- and very low-income households. This development represents a significant addition to the County’s affordable housing pipeline in a community where the need for affordable housing remains critical.
The recommended HOME investment is intended to close key financing gaps and advance projects that are development-ready and capable of delivering long-term affordability. By prioritizing this development, the County is leveraging HOME funds to maximize unit production that supports vulnerable populations, including TAY. This targeted investment strategy advances the County’s five-year Consolidated Plan goals by accelerating housing production, strengthening community stability, and ensuring that limited federal resources are deployed in projects with the greatest potential to deliver measurable and lasting housing outcomes. The remaining amount of approximately $400,000 is allocated for administrative costs.
The ESG program provides critical federal resources to address homelessness through five eligible components: Street Outreach, Emergency Shelter, Rapid Re-housing, Homelessness Prevention, and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). These funds are foundational to maintaining a responsive, accountable, and performance-driven homelessness response system.
For PY 2026-27, ESG investments will strategically reinforce the County’s regional shelter and homelessness response system in direct alignment with the Homeless Strategic Action Plan, adopted in 2022. Funding will be deployed to strengthen core system infrastructure, expand evidence-based interventions, and enhance regional coordination to ensure measurable reductions in unsheltered homelessness.
Priority ESG investments include:
• System-level investments that improve coordination, service delivery, and access to shelter connected to regional navigation centers
• Coordinated encampment response and proactive street outreach to connect unsheltered individuals to housing pathways
• Rapid re-housing interventions designed to reduce lengths of stay in emergency shelter and accelerate exits to permanent housing
• Strategic enhancements to HMIS and coordinated entry infrastructure to improve data quality, performance management, and system accountability
These targeted investments are intended to achieve measurable reductions in unsheltered homelessness, enhance system outcomes and performance, accelerate transitions to permanent housing, and strengthen the County’s ability to deliver equitable, data-driven, and results-oriented services across the full continuum of homelessness response.
A proposed Substantial Amendment to the PY 2019-20 Action Plan would reprogram $425,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds. County administrative funds of $300,000 would be reallocated to the Senior Meals Program serving senior citizens in the western region of the county. Program funds relinquished in January 2026 by the City of Big Bear Lake in the amount of $125,000 would be reallocated to CDBG-CV projects requiring additional funding. CDBG-CV funding has to be fully expended by October 22, 2026, therefore the department must act to reallocate the funding to ensure that all requirements are met by the established deadline.
In accordance with the County’s Citizen Participation Plan, a public hearing is required to receive comments on the proposed PY 2026-27 Action Plan and Substantial Amendment to the 2019-20 Action Plan. Public notice was provided through local newspapers, the department website (<https://cdh.sbcounty.gov/reports/>), the Office of Homeless Services ListServe, and direct outreach to participating cities.
The public comment period opened on March 21, 2026, and concludes once comments are received by the Board at the April 21, 2026 public hearing. All comments received prior to the close of the hearing will be considered for inclusion in the PY 2026-27 Action Plan. Once the public hearing has concluded, CDH will consider all public comments and finalize the PY 2026-27 Action Plan, which may include adjusting projects or funding allocations, clarifying priorities, and adding a summary of citizen comments and responses. The final document will be brought back to the Board for final approval on May 5, 2026.
Any amendment to the PY 2026-27 Action Plan that constitutes a substantial amendment will be subject to the County’s Citizen Participation Plan, including a 30-day public notice period, Board approval, and HUD approval.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5445) on March 19, 2026; County Finance and Administration (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 387-4205) on March 24, 2026.