Council hears plan for RF3 funds to house roughly 60 people; staff seeks local subcontractor and aims to implement by April

City housing staff presented a funding-availability notice for RF3 funds intended to provide temporary housing and landlord incentives for people experiencing homelessness within a focused area of San Bernardino.

Staff said the city plans to use $1,792,432 over approximately two years to provide housing navigation, up to six months of lodging and utility assistance, security-deposit and insurance assistance, and landlord incentives. The presentation described a targeted area of roughly 6.52 miles around Waterman Avenue and referenced potential sites north of the cemetery and along Mill Street; staff said the program’s design intends to serve about 60 people (a mix of one- and two-bedroom unit configurations was described) and that the per-unit assistance and incentives could vary depending on unit size and participant eligibility.

Eligible subcontractors: staff said applications will be accepted from local community-based organizations and nonprofit housing providers with experience navigating tenants to landlords and with demonstrated financial capacity to administer payments and incentives. The application deadline was stated as Feb. 26, 2025. Staff said the city expects to select a subcontractor and have contracts in place with a target to implement the program in late April, with a more conservative “worst-case” start in early May; the program would cover a period through June 30, 2025, for the initial funding tranche.

Accountability and reporting: staff said the selected subcontractor would be required to participate in the county’s MDT processes and provide monthly reports to the city. Councilmembers asked about protections for tenants, monitoring, and landlord responsibilities; staff replied that the subcontractor would be responsible for landlord engagement, monitoring, and responding to calls/emails to mitigate behavioral or property issues. Staff also said the funding source includes prior state emergency declarations and RF3 allocations previously awarded to the city.

Public reaction: residents and service providers spoke during public comment, raising questions about eligibility for people with disabilities or behavioral challenges, coordination with the county’s facilities and services, and the need to ensure ongoing case management and wraparound supports. One resident asked for clarity about whether the program would make conditions worse; others pressed for local services and utility access as part of the program.

Council direction and action: councilmembers expressed support for the application and for staff’s proposed monitoring/reporting structure. The council indicated unanimous support to proceed with the application and contract process as described and for staff to report quarterly/monthly on outcomes and compliance.

Next steps: staff will accept subcontractor applications through the Feb. 26 deadline, evaluate proposals, and return to council with contract recommendations and a timeline for implementation and reporting.