REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 19, 2026
FROM
JOSHUA DUGAS, Acting Director, Department of Behavioral Health
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to the California Department of Health Care Services for the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program 2026-2027
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of the grant application to the California Department of Health Care Services for the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program 2026-2027, in an amount not to exceed $526,611, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health, as the County Mental Health Plan Director, to electronically execute and submit the grant application, and any subsequent non-substantive amendments, for the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program 2026-2027, as required by the California Department of Health Care Services, on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Behavioral Health to transmit the grant application and any non-substantive amendments related to the Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program 2026-2027 to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Joshua Dugas, Acting Director, 252-5142)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
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 does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) will submit a grant application to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) for passthrough federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Program 2026-2027 grant funding in the amount not to exceed $526,611. The grant requires a one to three local match of $175,537. The DBH will meet the required match through in-kind services provided to individuals who are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless by staff funded with Behavioral Health Services Act funding. If the PATH program grant is awarded, DBH will return to the Board of Supervisors to request acceptance of the grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The federal Substance Use and Mental Health Administration allocates the formula-based PATH funding to DHCS who is responsible for statewide administration and distribution of funds. DHCS operates as a pass-through entity with direct services provided by county mental health departments, such as DBH. The grant provides funding to support services for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), or individuals that have co-occurring SMI and substance-use disorders, and are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness. Since the program’s inception in 1990, DBH has continuously received PATH grant funding.
On April 9, 2026, DHCS released instructions for completion of the PATH grant application, with an initial submission deadline of April 13, 2026. DBH requested and was granted an extension to June 6, 2026, to allow sufficient time for completion and review of the application materials.
DBH will utilize PATH funding to provide targeted outreach, planning, and coordination for housing services, education support, linkages to behavioral health services including medication support, job training, and case management. These services are expected to serve:
• An estimated 300 unduplicated clients annually;
• At an approximate cost of $2,340 per individual.
DBH is requesting delegated authority for the Director of DBH, in their capacity as the County Mental Health Plan Director, to execute and submit the grant application and any non-substantive amendments to DHCS on behalf of San Bernardino County, subject to review by County Counsel. Failure to meet the application deadline will result in the loss of grant funding and negatively impact the County’s ability to provide critical services to this vulnerable population.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Behavioral Health Contracts (Michael Shin, Administrative Manager, 383-0899) on April 14, 2026; County Counsel (Kristina Robb, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 17, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Iliana Rodriguez, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on May 1, 2026.