Community Overview
Downtown San Bernardino was selected as the community of study due to the significant social, economic, and environmental challenges impacting residents on a daily basis. Historically, San Bernardino experienced economic decline following the closure of Norton Air Force Base, which contributed to increased unemployment, poverty, housing instability, and disinvestment throughout the city. Over time, many neighborhoods in the downtown area began experiencing higher crime rates, visible homelessness, deteriorating infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities for residents.
The community consists of a diverse population including working-class families, immigrants, elderly residents, youth, and a large unhoused population. While the city continues to work toward revitalization, many residents still face barriers related to affordable housing, transportation, healthcare access, food insecurity, and employment opportunities. Environmental concerns such as poor air quality and extreme summer heat also impact the health and safety of vulnerable populations, particularly unhoused individuals living outdoors.
Despite these challenges, Downtown San Bernardino remains a resilient community with numerous strengths and resources. The area contains churches, nonprofit organizations, shelters, public transportation systems, libraries, schools, and healthcare facilities that continue supporting residents. Community leaders, faith-based organizations, and local advocates actively work toward improving conditions and increasing support services for vulnerable populations.
Our group chose this community because it represents many of the systemic issues social workers encounter in practice, including homelessness, poverty, inequality, and limited access to resources. The community also provided an opportunity to directly engage with residents and local leaders to better understand how social problems impact everyday life. Through this project, our group hoped to gain a deeper understanding of community advocacy while exploring ways to support individuals experiencing hardship in Downtown San Bernardino.