San Bernardino council directs staff to pursue regional partners, county support to close SB Hope funding gap

San Bernardino city staff told the City Council at a special meeting called to order at 3:30 p.m. that the SB Hope navigation campus faces a construction and operating shortfall and proposed three ways to address it: proceed as the city’s sole operator, pursue a regional cost‑sharing model with neighboring cities, or sell/lease the completed project to San Bernardino County.

Cassandra Searcy, deputy director of homelessness and housing, said the city has layered federal and state funding in the project and highlighted a recent Homekey 3 award: "the city was awarded $35,000,000 in Homekey 3," a senior staff member told the council. Staff emphasized fund covenants and compliance obligations tied to HUD and HCD awards.

The presentation to council laid out operating scenarios for phase 1 (100 beds) and phase 2 (200 beds). Staff said start‑up and contingency costs bring first‑year…