REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
MARCUS DILLARD, Chief of Homeless Services, Office of Homeless Services
SUBJECT
Title
San Bernardino County Homeless Strategic Action Plan
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the San Bernardino County Homeless Strategic Action Plan.
2. Direct the Assistant Executive Officer, Deputy Executive Officer, and Chief of Homeless Services to collaborate with public and private stakeholders to implement the San Bernardino County Homeless Strategic Action Plan for a collective impact approach to prevent and reduce homelessness, to align County resources, to expand coordination across County departments and community organizations, to carry out the identified strategies, and to develop pilot projects for vulnerable populations and return to the Board of Supervisors with periodic updates.
(Presenter: Marcus Dillard, Chief of Homeless Services, 501-0644)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote and Fulfill the Countywide Vision.
Improve County Government Operations.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as this item is non-financial in nature.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The San Bernardino County (County) Homeless Strategic Action Plan (Plan) provides a comprehensive, data-driven framework to prevent and reduce homelessness across the county. The Plan builds upon prior Board of Supervisors (Board) direction and the 2022 Strategic Action Plan, which established a coordinated, countywide response to homelessness.
The updated Plan reflects extensive community engagement and incorporates input from more than 500 stakeholders, including County departments, cities, service providers, and individuals with lived experience.
On June 14, 2022 (Item No. 112), the Board approved the County Homeless Strategic Action Plan, establishing a coordinated, data-driven, countywide framework to prevent and reduce homelessness through the alignment of County departments, community partners, and housing resources.
On March 28, 2023 (Item No. 21), the Board approved the Homeless Initiatives Spending Plan, providing significant one-time funding to expand housing, services, and system coordination in alignment with the Strategic Action Plan. Additional Board actions, including approval of annual federal funding through the County’s Annual Action Plans in 2023 and 2024, have further supported homelessness prevention, shelter expansion, and development of permanent housing solutions consistent with the Plan’s goals. Collectively, these actions reflect the County’s continued commitment to implementing a comprehensive, countywide approach to address homelessness while advancing the priorities established in the 2022 Strategic Action Plan.
The updated Plan responds to current trends and data. In 2026, 3,718 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness in the county, reflecting a decrease of nearly 3.1% from the prior year. While progress has been made, significant challenges remain, including housing affordability, limited shelter capacity, and gaps in coordination and service access.
The Plan outlines a five-year strategy focused on strengthening the County’s homelessness response system through five key actions:
• Prevent homelessness through early intervention and diversion strategies.
• House the highest risk populations with coordinated services.
• Expand permanent housing solutions, including permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing.
• Strengthen community partnerships across jurisdictions and sectors.
• Improve system coordination, data sharing, and performance monitoring.
The Plan emphasizes a shift from fragmented services to a coordinated, countywide system that aligns resources, enhances partnerships, and improves outcomes.
Implementation will include expanding outreach, increasing housing capacity, strengthening prevention programs, and enhancing data-driven decision-making. The Plan also establishes performance measures and monitoring processes to evaluate progress and ensure accountability over time.
Approval of the Plan will formalize the County’s strategic direction and authorize continued collaboration across departments, cities, and community partners to address homelessness through a unified and coordinated approach.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 9, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on April 17, 2026.