Who We Are
The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) is one of the most progressive housing authorities in the Country and also the largest provider of affordable housing in San Bernardino County. HACSB proudly assists approximately 26,000 people, most of whom are seniors, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and children.
The majority of our work is to provide rental assistance to low-income families either by housing families in units HACSB owns and manages or by providing subsidized housing assistance to a landlord for renting their housing unit to assisted families.
Unlike other health and human services programs, we provide housing assistance based on the number of rental assistance vouchers and other affordable housing units for which we are authorized and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide immediate housing assistance. As families are selected from our waiting lists, new families are pulled and housed off the various waiting lists. As a result, it takes years for low-income families to receive housing assistance.
Moving to Work
As a testament to our high performance, in 2008, HACSB was designated by Congress as a Moving to Work (MTW) public housing agency, allowing HACSB to waive some HUD program requirements in order to develop local policies adapted to the diverse communities that make up San Bernardino County. Currently there are 39 designated MTW agencies among the 3,200 housing authorities nationwide.
We have transformed our agency by executing innovative initiatives based on the three MTW statutory objectives:
- Saving taxpayer dollars through efficient work
- Helping families achieve economic independence
- Ensuring a family’s freedom of housing choice
HASCB has implemented various changes using MTW flexibilities, efforts that are not available to traditional housing authorities, who must adhere to regulatory requirements. To evaluate the impacts of these changes, HACSB partners with Loma Linda University (LLU) for third-party research and evaluation. LLU has conducted nationally recognized research reports and needs assessments of several of our MTW initiatives, helping to inform policy and shape program design.
Development
Unlike other health and human services programs, we provide housing assistance based on the number of rental assistance vouchers and other affordable housing units for which we are authorized and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide immediate housing assistance. As families are selected from our waiting lists, new families are pulled and housed off the various waiting lists. As a result, it takes years for low-income families to receive housing assistance.
A common misconception about affordable housing programs is that low-income households do not work and/or work minimal hours and rely primarily on government assistance. However, the reality is that most do work, but their earnings, despite educational and/or professional training levels, do not support the high cost of housing and other basic needs. In response, HACSB’s development program utilizes a strategy to leverage revenues generated by our moderate income and market rate housing assets to assist our lower-income residents with reduced housing costs, thereby improving their future outlooks and easing their transition to self-sufficiency. This is a direct reflection of our Moving to Work designation and Board driven mission to assist families in achieving an enriched quality of life.
Our Mission
The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino empowers all individuals and families in need to achieve an enriched quality of life by providing housing opportunities and resources throughout San Bernardino County.
Our Vision
The Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino is committed to creating a world in which all people have a stable and enriched quality of life.
Core Values
Respect | Safety | Integrity | Service
