CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: October 7, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Cassandra Searcy, Housing & Homelessness Division Manager; Andrea Russell, Director of Human Resources
Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: Authorize Two (2) Full-Time Homeless Outreach Specialist Positions in the Community Development & Housing
Department- Grant Funded Through April 2031 (All Wards) Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the addition of two (2) grant-funded full-time equivalent (FTE) Homeless Outreach Specialist positions to the Community Development & Housing Department, funded through Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds through April 30, 2031.
City Manager's Comments
The City Manager recommends approval. The positions would be funded through 2031.
Executive Summary
Establishing two new full-time Homeless Outreach Specialist positions within the Community Development & Housing Department will enhance the City’s ability to transition services currently performed by two part-time, CDBG-CV-funded employees to two full-time, PHLA-funded Homeless Outreach Specialist positions to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Both positions will be fully grant-funded for the duration of the Permanent Housing Local Allocation (PHLA) grant through April 30, 2031.
Background
The City of San Bernardino was previously awarded Motel Voucher Program funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV), and Permanent Housing Local Allocation Program grants to assist individuals experiencing homelessness in transitioning from encampments into emergency shelter, utilizing motel vouchers and, while at the motel, receiving supportive services to create a pathway toward permanent housing or other housing options. The Housing and Homeless Services Division, following allowable activities, is currently providing case management activities to individuals temporarily housed at the city's contracted motels and providing support services and connecting unhoused individuals to larger systems of care and long-term shelter and housing options. The proposed amendments would transition services currently provided by two part-time, CDBG-CV-funded employees to two full-time, PHLA-funded Homeless Outreach Specialist positions.
The City has received approval to use Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds to support case management and outreach services for individuals experiencing homelessness, including those temporarily sheltered through the City's motel program.
The funding will allow the City to establish two full-time Homeless Outreach Specialist positions. Currently, two part-time employees provide these services using CDBG-CV funding, which is scheduled to end on October 22, 2026. The PLHA funding will provide continuity of these services and support the two full-time positions through April 30, 2031.
Discussion
The Human Resources Department seeks to add two (2) full-time positions to the Community Development and Housing and Homeless Services Department. These positions (2 Homeless Outreach Specialists) will be 100% grant-funded and are necessary to continue providing case management services under the City’s PHLA funds.
Personnel Costs: Currently, the two Homeless Outreach Specialist positions are funded through CDBG-CV on a part-time basis. Pursuant to PHLA, these positions are anticipated to continue beyond the sunset of CDBG-CV funding and transition to fulltime positions to maintain consistent citywide PHLA-approved services and continuity of operations.
The estimated annual personnel cost to support both full-time Homeless Outreach Specialist positions is approximately $180,000, inclusive of salaries and associated employee benefits. Based on this annual estimate, the projected cost to maintain both positions for five years, through April 30, 2031, is approximately $819,616.44, assuming salary and benefit costs remain consistent.
The continuation of these positions will provide dedicated staffing to conduct citywide street outreach, engage individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness, coordinate referrals to shelter and supportive services, support encampment response activities, and connect individuals to available housing and service resources. Funding these positions beyond the expiration of CDBG-CV will also prevent a disruption in outreach capacity as the City transitions away from the temporary federal funding source.
Annual Personnel Cost – Two Full-Time Positions: Approximately $180,000 Projected Five-Year Personnel Cost: Approximately $819,616.44 Projection Period: Through April 30, 2031
In addition to salaries and benefits, CDBG-CV covers materials and supplies, computers/equipment, cell phones, software, and other costs needed to support the positions.
The Homeless Services Division will continue to actively pursue federal, state, County, and other grant funding opportunities to offset City costs and minimize the impact on the General Fund. However, should sufficient external funding not be available to sustain these services, the Division will seek authorization from the Mayor and City Council for the appropriation and use of General Fund resources. This approach reflects the City’s continued commitment to addressing homelessness as a priority while ensuring that funding decisions remain transparent, fiscally responsible, and subject to appropriate City Council approval. The anticipated start date for the two positions is October 12, 2026. The positions will transition from CDBG-CV funding to PLHA funding effective October 12, 2026, with PLHA funds covering 100 percent of the positions' salary and benefits going forward.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
Adding two (2) full-time positions to the Housing and Homelessness Services Division aligns with Key Target No. 2: Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community by enabling the City to improve service delivery and function more efficiently, and with Key Target 2b: Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community by building a culture that attracts, retains, and motivates the highest quality of talent.
Fiscal Impact
Adding 2 full-time positions to the Community Development & Housing Department has no fiscal impact, as the positions are 100% funded through the PHLA grant.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the addition of two (2) grant-funded full-time equivalent (FTE) Homeless Outreach Specialist positions to the Community Development & Housing Department, funded through Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) funds through April 30, 2031.
Attachments
Attachment 1: Approval email from PHLA
Attachment 2: Support for the Fiscal Estimates
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
February 4, 2026, the Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-009 amending the City-Wide Salary Schedule for Full-Time, Part-Time, Temporary, and Seasonal Positions.
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager