A groundbreaking ceremony took place at the future site of the West End Regional Navigation Center in Fontana on Apr. 16. The new facility, located at 1109 Jasmine St., will provide shelter for up to 200 homeless individuals until they can transition into permanent housing, according to a statement from San Bernardino County.
The navigation center is designed as a low-barrier facility, allowing residents to keep their personal belongings and offering more flexible rules regarding curfews. In addition to temporary shelter, those staying at the center will have access to behavioral health services, medical care, case management, transportation assistance, and help with finding permanent housing.
The estimated cost for building the navigation center is $20 million. Dawn Rowe, chair of the county board of supervisors, said in the statement: “No single county or city can address this challenge alone. Meaningful progress will require coordinated regional efforts and a shared commitment to addressing homelessness.”
The project is being developed by San Bernardino County in partnership with several cities including Chino, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Upland. The facility is expected to be ready in early 2027.
Officials say that collaborative efforts like this are necessary for making progress on homelessness across the region.
