REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2026
FROM
ROB GILLIAM, Acting Director, Community Development and Housing
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Helping Hearts California, LLC for Operation of the West End Regional Navigation Center
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Agreement with Helping Hearts California, LLC, to provide management, operation, staffing, routine maintenance, and supportive services for the West End Regional Navigation Center, in an amount not to exceed $7,835,292, effective November 17, 2026 through November 16, 2029.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Executive Officer, or Director of the Community Development and Housing Department to execute any necessary non-substantive amendments to the Agreement with Helping Hearts California, LLC, including changes to the budget in Attachment C, provided that the changes do not increase the total amount of the Agreement, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Community Development and Housing Department to transmit any subsequent, non-substantive amendments to the Agreement with Helping Hearts California, LLC to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
4. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post budget adjustments as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Rob Gilliam, Acting Director, 382-3983)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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 additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Fiscal Year 2026-27 costs are anticipated to be funded with Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program revenue from Inland Empire Health Plan. The Community Development and Housing Department (CDH) anticipates receiving this revenue to support mobilization and startup of the West End Regional Navigation Center (Navigation Center). Since the timing of the revenue may not align with the timing of start-up and operating expenditures, the recommended budget adjustment is necessary to establish sufficient appropriation authority and allow required activities to proceed without delaying the anticipated opening of the Navigation Center.
Funding for subsequent fiscal years is not included in the current budget adjustment. Potential funding sources include contributions from the Cities of Chino, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, and Upland (Participating Cities), pursuant to Memorandum of Understanding No. 26-135 (MOU), Permanent Local Housing Allocation funds, and other eligible federal and state grants. The use of these funding sources will be subject to availability, program eligibility, and any required approvals.
The Participating Cities will collectively contribute approximately $2.525 million annually toward operating costs, subject to increases based on the Consumer Price Index, as provided in the MOU. The County will oversee facility operations, the operator, service outcomes, fiscal administration, auditing, and reporting.
CDH requests the following adjustments to the 2026-27 budget:
|
Cost Center / Fund |
Commitment Item/ GL |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
6210002497 |
53003205 |
Public Assistance |
Increase |
$3,500,000 |
|
6210002497 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers In |
Increase |
$3,500,000 |
|
6210002493 |
55305030 |
Operating Transfers Out |
Increase |
$3,500,000 |
|
6210002493 |
40408955 |
State - Grants |
Increase |
$3,500,000 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CDH administers housing and community development programs and initiatives on behalf of San Bernardino County (County), including efforts that support the development and operation of housing and facilities serving county residents. For the Navigation Center, CDH is responsible for administering the County’s regional partnership with the Participating Cities and overseeing the facility operator, contract and fiscal administration, program performance, and reporting.
The Navigation Center, located at 11109 Jasmine Street in Fontana, is a regional partnership between the County and the Participating Cities. The Navigation Center is being developed as a low-barrier, Housing First shelter and integrated service facility for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the West End region of the county.
On March 10, 2026 (Item No. 36), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Purchase and Sale Agreement No. 26-134 and Joint Escrow Instructions with the City of Fontana (City). Under the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the City is responsible for completing the pre-development and construction activities necessary to renovate the property. The County will acquire the improved property after construction is completed and escrow closes.
Also on March 10, 2026, the Board approved MOU No. 26-135 between the County and the Participating Cities, establishing a regional operating and cost-sharing framework for an initial 10-year term. The Participating Cities will make annual contributions toward operations, while the County will oversee facility operations, the operator, service outcomes, fiscal administration, auditing, and reporting. The MOU also establishes Oversight and Operations Committees to provide regional input regarding program performance, policies, referrals, operations, and annual budgets.
Upon completion of construction, the Navigation Center is anticipated to open in summer 2027 with approximately 187 beds, subject to final certificates of occupancy, fire and building requirements, and County authorization.
On June 4, 2026, the design was revised to address emergency egress and safety concerns by eliminating proposed exterior doors along the south side of the facility and reconfiguring a dormitory area into four 18-bed dormitories. These revisions reduced the planned capacity by 13 beds.
The Navigation Center will operate around the clock to provide emergency shelter, intake and assessment, case management, housing navigation, and benefits and employment assistance. Services will also include healthcare and behavioral health navigation, substance use disorder service coordination, transportation, meals and basic needs, hygiene and laundry services, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources. Services will follow Housing First and low-barrier principles and focus on individualized housing stability planning.
Based on the Navigation Center’s anticipated capacity of 187 beds, an average stay of 180 days, and an assumed 90 percent occupancy rate, the Navigation Center is estimated to serve approximately 341 individuals annually. This estimate is calculated as follows: 187 beds × 90 percent occupancy × 365 days ÷ 180 days = approximately 341 individuals. The number of households served will depend on household size and the number of beds designated for families.
Approval of the recommended agreement with Helping Hearts California, LLC (Agreement), will establish Helping Hearts California, LLC (Helping Hearts) as the operator of the Navigation Center. Helping Hearts will manage, staff, maintain, and operate the facility; provide participant services; coordinate safety and security; and complete required data collection and reporting.
The Agreement is for a three-year term from November 17, 2026 through November 16, 2029, in a total amount not to exceed $7,835,292. Of this amount, $3,059,932 is projected for initial mobilization and startup costs through June 30, 2027. The mobilization and startup funding will prepare the Navigation Center for opening and initial operations. Funding will be used to equip and furnish the facility; purchase kitchen, laundry, and medical equipment and supplies; establish technology, communication, and records systems; obtain insurance and utilities; and support medical director and other professional services. Funding will also cover pre-opening shelter, medical, administrative, management, and security staffing and training.
The recommended budget adjustment will establish $3,500,000 in appropriation authority in CDH’s 2026-27 budget. This amount includes $3,059,932 for costs under the Agreement and $440,068 for other eligible startup and operating expenses, such as equipment and supplies or unanticipated expenses necessary to open and support operations. The additional appropriation authority does not increase the amount payable under the Agreement.
The estimated operating cost under the Agreement for Fiscal Year 2027-28, the first full fiscal year of operations, is $1,789,701. Funding for Fiscal Year 2027-28 and subsequent fiscal years is not included in the current budget adjustment and will be presented to the Board through future budget actions.
Because the Navigation Center is a new project entering mobilization and initial operations, actual expenditures and operational needs may differ from initial projections as the County evaluates program implementation. Line-item adjustments to the budget in Attachment C may therefore be necessary to align available funding with actual startup and operating needs. The requested delegated authority will allow the County to make timely, non-substantive budget reallocations without delaying the opening or operation of the Navigation Center, provided the adjustments do not increase the total not-to-exceed amount of the Agreement. All amendments will remain subject to County Counsel review and will be transmitted to the Clerk of the Board within 30 days of execution.
CDH and Helping Hearts will conduct quarterly monitoring meetings to review expenditure levels, Participating City contributions, other eligible operating revenues, and updated operating projections. Consistent with the MOU, CDH will return to the Board annually with updated operating costs and the proposed annual budget for the Navigation Center.
PROCUREMENT
The County released Request for Proposals (RFP) EDA126-EDA-5984 on July 17, 2025, through the County’s Electronic Procurement Network (ePro), to solicit proposals for operation and management services for the Navigation Center for an initial term of three years.
The County received three proposals by the established submission deadline. Proposals from the three proposers listed below met the minimum requirements and continued through the evaluation process.
|
Proposer Name |
Location |
|
Helping Hearts California, LLC |
San Bernardino, CA |
|
Symba Center |
Victorville, CA |
|
Whole Person Care Clinic |
San Bernardino, CA |
A panel consisting of representatives from CDH, the Office of Homeless Services, Department of Behavioral Health, the City of Fontana, as well as representatives from Operation Grace, and Path of Life Ministries, organizations experienced in providing homeless shelter and supportive services, evaluated the proposals. The evaluation criteria identified in the RFP included proposer qualifications and experience, financial stability and management, staffing plan and operational structure, program design and service delivery, performance measurement and reporting, and overall responsiveness to the RFP requirements.
After completing the evaluation process, Helping Hearts California, LLC was determined to be the highest-ranked proposer and was recommended for contract award. Award and denial letters were sent to all responsive proposers on February 2, 2026. The County received a protest on February 9, 2026, within the allowable period. On March 17, 2026, the protest was denied.
Purchasing supports this competitive procurement based on the formal solicitation described above.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 10, 2026; Purchasing (Lisa Zhu, Buyer III, 387-7892) on November 5, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on October 5, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 388-0218) on November 10, 2026.