By james art San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. | Photo courtesy of San Bernardino County
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a wide range of funding for a diverse range of community projects.
These area-specific projects received discretionary funds from the board:
- $100,000 from 2nd District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez’s Specific Priorities Program to the West Valley Water District for the Fountain Conservation through Fire Hydrant Upgrade project. The goal of the project is for homes in South Fontana to have optimal fire protection and be “within recommended distances from fire hydrants,” according to a statement from the county.
- $100,000 from the Armendarez Program to Foothill Family Shelter to provide transitional housing and shelter services, including food, diapers and hygiene products to low-income and homeless families from Upland, Ontario, Montclair, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont and Pomona.
- $56,000 from Armendarez’s San Antonio Heights Poinsettia Renovation Program.
- $50,000 from the Armendarez Program to rename Randall Pepper Elementary School to O’Day Short Elementary School and support school initiatives focused on diversity.
- $25,000 from the Armendarez Program to support the Upland Chamber of Commerce.
- $10,000 from 4th District Supervisor Kurt Hagman’s Specific Priorities Program to promote the county with an additional San Bernardino County Empire Strykers football game night. The funding will also pay for additional match tickets for residents, particularly youth, to attend a game in the 2024-25 season.
Funding for a victim witness assistance program
The county will receive a state grant of approximately $3 million to fund the District Attorney’s Witness Assistance Program.
“The program has received annual grant funding since its inception in 1980 and provides a wide variety of social services to victims and witnesses of crime, including referrals to physical and mental health providers, coordination of community volunteer support, assistance with applying for benefit from crime victim funds for economic loss and guidance on navigating the criminal justice system,” the county said in a statement.
This year’s grant is from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Refugee Health Assessment Program
The Board of Supervisors approved a state grant to provide health assessments for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in the Inland Empire.
“Refugees often face severe trauma and health issues from war, persecution and loss, compounded by limited access to health care, making comprehensive health assessments and resources essential to their self-sufficiency,” the county said in a statement.
Since 2014, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health has provided health assessments to refugees in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, officials said. The grant funding from the California Department of Public Health will allow DPH to receive reimbursement “on a fee-for-service basis of $106 for a comprehensive health assessment and approximately $50,000 in administrative costs.”
Officials said the Refugee Health Assessment Program aligns with county policy “by promoting inclusion and equity in health care as part of the county’s broader commitment to combating racism as a public health crisis.”
Adult Literacy Services Program
The California State Library awarded the San Bernardino County Library approximately $122,000 to fund the Adult Literacy Services Program.
“This initiative improves participants’ reading and writing skills through personalized instruction and learning and empowers them to achieve many goals by building confidence when applying for jobs, being able to vote and more,” according to the district’s statement.
Agreement with Step Up on Second
Supervisors approved a memorandum of understanding with Step Up on Second for in-kind services totaling about $767,000. The collaboration between the county and the nonprofit, which supports people experiencing homelessness and mental illness, is part of the Continuum of Care program US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Step Up on Second takes referrals from the county’s Coordinated Entry System, which is a centralized system used to help people experiencing homelessness more effectively access housing and supportive services, and determines eligibility for rental assistance , funded by HUD,” county officials said in a statement.
The county’s Department of Behavioral Health provides support services that include case management, job placement assistance, housing assistance, basic life skills training, mental health services, substance use treatment and transportation.
CalFresh Job and Training Program
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department has secured a $1.75 million agreement with Goodwill Industries of Southern California to administer the CalFresh Employment and Training Program.
The program is for CalFresh recipients who do not receive cash benefits and provides job readiness training, job seeker workshops, vocational training referrals and educational support, according to the county.