REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 4, 2026
FROM
MARCUS DILLARD, Chief of Homeless Services, Office of Homeless Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amendments to Contracts with Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. and Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino for Housing and Disability Advocacy Program Legal Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 23-1143 with Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc., for continued Housing and Disability Advocacy Program legal services, increasing the contract amount by $75,000, from $943,566 to $1,018,566, and extending the contract term by one year, for a total contract period of November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2027.
2. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 4400031551 with Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino, for continued Housing and Disability Advocacy Program legal services, increasing the contract amount by $125,000, from $125,000 to $250,000, and extending the contract term by one year, for a total contract period of April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
3. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, Deputy Executive Officer, or the Chief of Homeless Services, to approve and execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the contracts in Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2 necessary for the administration of the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program legal services, subject to review by County Counsel.
4. Direct the Chief of Homeless Services to transmit any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the contracts in Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Marcus Dillard, Chief of Homeless Services, 501-0610)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The recommended increases to the contracts in Recommendations Nos. 1 and 2, totaling $200,000, will be funded through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) allocation. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
California Assembly Bill 1603 (2016) established HDAP to assist individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and likely to be eligible for disability benefits. Through HDAP, San Bernardino County (County) assists participants in applying for Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, veterans benefits, and other disability-related income programs while supporting their transition to permanent housing.
HDAP continues to be an essential component of the County’s efforts to address homelessness by connecting vulnerable residents to stable income sources and housing opportunities. The program supports the County’s Homeless Strategic Action Plan through coordinated partnerships among County departments, legal service providers, and community-based organizations.
Inland Counties Legal Services, Inc. (ICLS) and Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino (LASSB) provide legal advocacy services to eligible HDAP participants. Services include eligibility assessments, preparation and submission of disability benefit applications, appeals representation, legal advocacy, and ongoing support throughout the disability determination process.
On October 24, 2023 (Item No. 26), following a formal procurement process (Request for Proposal No. HSSA23-HSSA-4953), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 23-1143 with ICLS in an amount not to exceed $620,000 for the period of November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025, with an option to extend for three additional one-year periods.
On December 17, 2024 (Item No. 38), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 23-1143 with ICLS, decreasing the contract amount by $61,434, for a revised amount not to exceed $558,566 with no change to the contract period of November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
On June 18, 2025 (Item No. 48), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 23-1143 with ICLS, increasing the contract amount by $310,000, for a revised amount not to exceed $868,566, and exercising the first of three one-year extension options, for a new total contract period of November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
On April 21, 2026 (Item No. 25), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 23-1143 with ICLS, increasing the contract amount by $75,000 for a revised total of $943,566, with no change to the contract period of November 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026.
Also on April 21, 2026, OHS executed Contract No. 4400031551 with LASSB in an amount not to exceed $125,000, to provide HDAP legal advocacy services to eligible participants for the period of April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. The contract was awarded to address an immediate need for additional legal advocacy capacity. The initial term was limited to the remainder of FY 2025-26 to align with the availability and expenditure period of the applicable HDAP funding.
Additional HDAP funding to support continued disability benefits advocacy services became available for FY 2026-27. The recommended amendments will provide additional funding and extend both contracts through June 30, 2027. For ICLS, the recommended amendment will exercise the second of three optional one-year extensions authorized under the original contract. The amendments will maintain continuity of legal services for HDAP participants and prevent interruptions in program operations.
On July 7, 2026, OHS received notice of its FY 2026-27 HDAP allocation, after the contracts had expired on June 30, 2026. Accordingly, approval of the amendments could not be obtained before the contract expiration date. Retroactive approval will maintain continuity of the services and allow reimbursement for legal advocacy services provided to eligible HDAP participants during the retroactive period.
Performance requirements under both contracts will continue to be monitored by OHS through regular reporting, fiscal reviews, and program monitoring activities. During the contract term, ICLS and LASSB met their contractual performance requirements by serving eligible HDAP participants, completing disability benefits applications and appeals, assisting participants in obtaining disability benefits, and supporting housing stability outcomes, as reflected in program performance metrics.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 25, 2026; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on June 26, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on July 08, 2026.