Attachment A
Wellness Center
Quarterly Report
QUARTERLYREPORT
July-September
2025Homelessness Solutions
Economic Development
As Victorville moved from summer into fall, the City’s
homelessness solutions initiative continued to gain
remarkable momentum, anchored by innovation,
compassion, and collaboration. The Victorville Wellness Center remained a centerpiece of progress, recognized
by the California Governor’s Office as a statewide model for how housing and healthcare integration can
transform lives. Through partnerships with Symba
Center, St. Mary Medical Center, and others, Victorville continues to be a leader in innovative ways to address
homelessness.
This quarter marked major strides in housing expansion.
The City Council approved new agreements with Family
Assistance Program and Victor Valley Family Resource
Center, strengthening Victorville’s rapid rehousing
network and helping individuals and families transition from interim shelter to permanent housing. With these
new efforts, the City is nearing a key milestone, almost 200 individuals permanently housed through its
coordinated continuum of care.
The Wellness Center also deepened its focus on mental
wellness, launching structured group sessions and
peer-led mental health education classes designed to
help residents build coping skills, community
connection, and recovery tools. These groups reflect
Victorville’s growing emphasis on whole-person
wellness, addressing both housing and behavioral
health to sustain long-term stability.
Behind the scenes, the City’s Facilities, Parks, and
Animal Care teams continue to ensure the campus
remains clean, safe, and welcoming for residents and
their pets. As the season turns, Victorville stands united in purpose, proving that when housing, healthcare, and
heart come together, transformation truly takes root.
P A G E 2
OVERVI EW
Hope is the bridge between where we
are and where we’re meant to be.
P A G E 3
VISIT FROM THE
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Representatives from the California
Governor’s Office visited the Victorville
Wellness Center Campus this quarter to see
firsthand how the City’s Homekey investment
is transforming lives through innovative
housing and healthcare integration.
Praised as a model for Governor Newsom’s
homelessness initiatives, the Wellness Center
was recognized for addressing high-acuity
mental health needs and homelessness in a
dignified, person-centered way. State officials
commended Victorville for linking housing,
healthcare, and supportive services to
improve outcomes across key life domains
and social determinants of health.
Partnerships with Symba, Inland Empire
Health Plan (IEHP), Arrowhead Regional
Medical Center (ARMC), St. Mary Medical
Center, Sheriff’ HOPE Team, the San
Bernardino County Department of Behavioral
Health, and numerous community-based
organizations have resulted in measurable
success, including a 27% overall reduction in
homelessness and 57% fewer unsheltered
individuals in Victorville from 2024 to 2025.
The Wellness Center is proof that when
housing and healthcare come together, lives
change. The City is proud to stand alongside
the State and our partners in delivering
solutions that restore dignity, stability, and
hope for our community.
P A G E 4
L a w r e n c e G .
CLIENT SUCCESS
At 87 years old, Lawrence, a proud U.S. veteran, found himself without a home after a series of life setbacks. Alone and unhoused, he came to the Victorville Wellness Center seeking safety and stability, and found so much more.
What began as temporary shelter became a place of refuge, friendship, and renewed purpose. Surrounded by caring staff and fellow residents, Lawrence rediscovered the camaraderie he had once known in the military. “People here looked out for me, and they made me feel like I mattered.” Through the coordinated efforts of the City of Victorville, Symba, and community partners, Lawrence received housing navigation, medical care, and veteran support. Ultimately, he was permanently housed, a milestone celebrated by everyone who had walked with him on his journey.
Lawrence’s story is a powerful reminder of why the City continues to invest its time, compassion, and resources into ending homelessness. He stands as a face of success, symbolizing the impact of a community that refuses to give up on its most vulnerable — and proof that dignity, hope, and home are possible at any age.
T h a n k y o u
f o r y o u r
s e r v i c e !
P A G E 5
FAMILIA A FAMILIA
NATIONAL ALLIANCE
ON MENTAL ILLNESS
This quarter, the Victorville Wellness Center continued to expand its focus on whole-person wellness by
partnering with the local NAMI affiliate to provide
nationally recognized NAMI training to Symba Center
staff. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening mental health awareness, reducing
stigma, and empowering both staff and residents to
engage in open, informed conversations about recovery
and resilience.
Through this partnership, Symba Case Manager Yolanda
Salinas successfully completed her NAMI-trained
facilitator certification, equipping her to lead evidence- based peer discussions and structured group sessions.
Shortly after her certification, Yolanda launched an
eight-week mental health education and support class
for Wellness Center clients, helping participants explore their own recovery journeys, understand mental health
conditions, and develop tools for self-care and
connection.
What made this class truly special was its accessibility:
it was taught entirely in Spanish, marking the first
Spanish-language mental health course ever held at
the Victorville Wellness Center. The class provided a
safe, inclusive space for Spanish-speaking clients to
share experiences, learn about wellness, and access
education that reflects their language and culture.
Yolanda shared being able to teach in Spanish allowed
clients to express themselves openly and feel truly
understood. “Many had never talked about mental
health before, and now they’re learning it’s okay to ask for help.”
The success of the first class has already inspired plans for future sessions, ensuring that recovery and mental
wellness are accessible to every client who walks
through the Wellness Center’s doors.
COMMUNI TY
PARTNERSHI P
P A G E 6
On August 4, 2025, the City of Victorville joined forces with Symba and Life Church for their annual “High
Desert We Love You” campaign, a powerful community
initiative dedicated to spreading compassion, hope, and practical support to residents in need. The event united local agencies, nonprofits, and volunteers with one
shared mission — to ensure that no one in the High
Desert is left behind.
The High Desert We Love You campaign is rooted in Life
Church’s mission to inspire and mobilize its members
and friends to actively engage in acts of service, giving their time, talents, and resources to uplift the less
fortunate. By coming together as a unified force,
participants worked to make a meaningful and lasting
impact on the lives of those who are struggling and
embodying the values of compassion, generosity, and
love.
As part of the campaign, the City of Victorville’s
Homelessness Solutions Team and Wellness Center
staff participated in a Homeless Resource Fair,
connecting individuals experiencing homelessness to
vital services — including shelter referrals, medical and behavioral health resources, employment programs,
and housing navigation support. This event created an
atmosphere of dignity and connection, ensuring that
residents not only received immediate assistance but
also information on long-term pathways to stability.
The High Desert We Love You campaign reflects the
City’s broader commitment to collaboration and
compassion-driven service, aligning with Victorville’s
Strategic Plan goals to enhance community
partnerships and promote wellness for all. Together
with Life Church and its dedicated volunteers, the City continues to help foster a culture of hope, belonging,
and unity across the High Desert.
C A R E
A N I M A L
S E R V I C E S
S h o u t O u t t o
The Victorville Wellness Center is a low-barrier shelter, meaning it removes common obstacles that often
prevent individuals from seeking help — including
allowing residents to bring their beloved pets with
them. This compassionate approach recognizes the
deep bond between people and their animals, helping
clients feel safe and supported as they begin their
path toward stability. This effort would not be possible without the dedication and partnership of the City’s
Animal Care & Control Team, whose ongoing support
ensures that every pet on campus is cared for with the
same compassion shown to their owners.
P A G E 7
P A G E 8
D E M O G R A P H I C S
Wellness Center July -
September 2025
3 8 %
4 7 %
6 M e n t a l H e a l t h
C h r o n i c a l l y H o m e l e s s
V e t e r a n s
Men
50.9%
Women
49.1%
White
35%
Hispanic/Multi
32%
African American
32%
Other
1%
C l i e n t G e n d e r
R a c e / E t h n ic it y
0 20 40 60 80 100
Under 18
18-24
25-44
45-54
55-61
Over 62
24 12
95 56
96 43
C l i e n t A g e
July August Sept .
0 5
10 15
20 10
17 7
July August Sept
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 49
51 31
INTAKES
HOUSING SOLUTIONS
AVERAGE
OCCUPANCY
P A G E 9
34 Clients Housed
131 Intakes Completed
160
INTAKES AND
HOUSING
THE CARE ACT
P A G E 1 0
The CARE Act, short for Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act, is a California law designed to help people living with serious mental health challenges get the treatment and support they need before they fall deeper into crisis. It creates a new pathway for care by allowing family members, behavioral health providers, or others to refer someone to a court-supervised care plan that connects them to services such as housing, counseling, medication, and case management.
For our Homelessness Solutions efforts,
including outreach, interim housing, and
other services, the CARE Act is a major
benefit because it helps link individuals
who might otherwise remain on the
streets, especially those with untreated
mental illness, to stable housing,
coordinated behavioral health care, and
wraparound services. It supports the
Wellness Center’s mission of meeting
people where they are, and providing
compassionate and structured help that
restores stability, dignity, and hope.
P A G E 1 1
BEHIND THE
S c e n e s
While the Victorville Wellness Center is best
known for the life-changing services it provides
to individuals on their journey toward stability
and wellness, a dedicated team works behind
the scenes each day to keep the facility
running smoothly.
The City’s Facilities staff ensure the Center
remains clean, safe, and well-maintained
through daily inspections and quick responses
to repair needs, creating a welcoming
environment for all.
Meanwhile, the Parks team maintains the
campus landscaping, trees, and green spaces,
fostering a calm, dignified setting that
promotes healing and community pride.
This quarter, Water Conservation also began
assessing water usage and improving
conservation practices, including upgrades to
the community garden irrigation system to
support sustainability and continued growth.
PARKS, WATER, AND
FACILITIES DEPTS.
P A G E 1 2
The City was Awarded TheHousing and HomelessnessIncentive Grant for CoordinatedHealth and Housing Solutions The City of Victorville was recently awarded $500,000 through San Bernardino County’s Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP), bringing the County’s total investment in the City’s innovative homelessness initiatives to nearly $1 million.
The funding supports ongoing operations at the 170-bed
Wellness Center, which provides interim housing and
wraparound services for individuals experiencing
homelessness. This grant, funded under California’s Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services Spending Plan, will help sustain the facility while reducing reliance on City General Fund and Measure P resources.
HEALTHCARE
AND HOUSING
On September 2, 2025, the Victorville City Council approved agreements with Family Assistance Program and Victor
Valley Family Resource Center to provide rapid rehousing services over the next two years. The initiative will help individuals and families secure permanent housing.
Homelessness Solutionsadds two new rapid re-housing providers
IN THE NEXT QUARTER THE WELLNESS
CENTER TEAM PLANS TO WORK TOWARDS
THE FOLLOWING MILESTONES:
PAGE 13
ADDITIONAL
GRADUATES INTO
PERMANENT HOUSING
SOLUTIONS
RECUPERATIVE CARE
CLIENT
MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM UPGRADES
OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT
ENHANCEMENTS
THANKSGIVING
RESOURCE FAIR
THE WELLNESS JOURNEY
CONTINUES