Homeless Summit highlights key housing accomplishments – Welcome to San Bernardino County
The San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership, in collaboration with the county’s Workplace of Homeless Companies, hosted the thirteenth Annual Homeless Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to debate priorities for addressing homelessness within the county and to focus on key successes in the course of the earlier 12 months.
Assembly attendees included Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, and key personnel from the County Administrative Workplace, Division of Public Well being, County Human Companies, Division of Neighborhood Growth and Housing, Probation Division, Sheriff’s Division, Division of Behavioral Well being, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Colleges (SBCSS), Metropolis of San Bernardino, Metropolis of Barstow, Metropolis of Rancho Cucamonga, Metropolis of Barstow, and representatives from neighborhood and faith-based organizations.
“The primary drawback that individuals discuss in our county is homelessness,” Baca, Jr. mentioned. “San Bernardino County has dedicated an unprecedented quantity of $72.7 million to handle this very advanced challenge. It’s not a simple drawback to repair, however we’re dedicated to bettering the standard of life in our county.”
Based on Baca, Jr., there are at present 4,000 people who determine as homeless within the county. Among the many prime priorities mentioned in the course of the assembly, growing housing was on the prime of the agenda.
“It’s actually about establishing a spot to name residence,” mentioned Assistant Govt Officer Diana Alexander, who can also be vice-chair of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH). “That’s what our constituents want, and I’m honored to associate with all of you to carry our collective assets collectively to create that sense of residence for as many individuals as attainable.”
As somebody who benefited from non secular care and psychological well being help to get by short-term homelessness, actor Noel Gugliemi delivered a keynote deal with on overcoming adversity. Gugliemi, who is named Hector in lots of his movies, has been featured in Coaching Day, The Quick and the Livid, Bruce Almighty, The Purge Anarchy, and others.
Gugliemi shared his testimony of a time throughout his adolescence when he skilled homelessness. Based on Gugliemi, he was given $500 and compelled out of his residence. After leaving residence, he joined a gang and was closely concerned in legal exercise. He determined to show his life round after being charged for tried homicide with a attainable lifetime sentence. He mentioned he was in a position to change his end result by associating with new individuals, specifically Christians, which led him to develop a relationship with an up-and-coming actress who helped him land his first tv business with Taco Bell.
“I give my credit score to God,” mentioned Gugliemi. “Once I began studying the Phrase of God, I started to extend in knowledge, and I used to be in a position to flip my life round. That’s what God does for you, He offers you a brand new mind-set.”
Following Gugliemi’s keynote deal with, a video presentation of key accomplishments was shared with the attendees.
The video featured Lutheran Social Companies of Southern California, which not too long ago renovated its Wellness Middle in San Bernardino to incorporate transformed restrooms with new showers, a repaired roof, central air and warmth, and ADA accessibility. The up to date shelter additionally launched a 6-month short-term housing program to assist purchasers transition to everlasting housing.
Within the mountain area of the county, Mission Roomkey and the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County have been spotlighted for buying the Georgia Avenue Cabins in Massive Bear to supply eight low-income housing models for people and households who’re homeless or at-risk of being homeless.
One other key accomplishment comes from a collaboration between Mission Roomkey, San Bernardino County Behavioral Well being, SBC Pathways, Workforce Coronary heart Shared Housing, Metropolis of Montclair, and the Christian Growth Middle in Montclair. These organizations partnered to supply everlasting housing, wrap-around companies, and transitional housing at three motels. Future plans embody introducing a mixture of emergency, transitional, and everlasting housing help.
Within the Morongo Basin, Align Assets and Problem Homelessness (ARCH) expanded its housing provide for homeless veterans in Twentynine Palms beneath California’s Homekey Mission and bought a duplex in Yucca Valley for emergency shelter.
Lastly, within the desert communities, a complete of 35 beds have been added to help emergency housing for people, seniors and households.
Following the video presentation, the subsequent subject beneath dialogue was homelessness amongst youth and younger adults. Ruben Mendoza, a youth advocate and Youth Advisory Board consultant for ICH, delivered key statistics from the 2023 Level IN Time Rely (PITC). Throughout his presentation, he shared {that a} whole of 799 out of two,948 experiencing homelessness have been 35 years of age or youthful. Moreover, out of 1,722 people interviewed in the course of the PITC, 217 or 12.5 p.c grew up in foster care.
Mendoza shared some suggestions for addressing homelessness amongst youth and younger adults, which included constructing extra housing, incorporating psychological and non secular wellness helps in Okay-12 faculties, and educating youth and younger adults on first time homebuying and monetary literacy.
The occasion concluded with an award presentation to Brenda Dowdy, the homeless training undertaking supervisor for SBCSS, and a coaching session led by Jillian Peace-Redd, scientific director of Lighthouse Social Companies, an company that gives psychological well being companies to the homeless inhabitants.
For extra details about ICH, please go to https://sbchp.sbcounty.gov/ich/. For extra details about the Workplace of Homeless Companies, please go to https://sbchp.sbcounty.gov/.
