After completing the needs assessment and community interviews, our group developed a strategic action plan focused on increasing awareness of local resources available to unhoused individuals in Downtown San Bernardino. The goal of the action plan was not to solve homelessness entirely, but rather to create a realistic and achievable intervention that could positively impact community members and improve access to support services.

The primary objective of the action plan was to connect unhoused individuals with available community resources by distributing informational flyers and engaging directly with community members. Our group partnered with Mary’s Mercy Center and promoted the Mary’s Table program, which provides hot meals, groceries, clothing, showers, and additional support services to unhoused individuals and families.

As part of the outreach effort, our group distributed flyers containing resource information and also provided bottled water to individuals encountered throughout the downtown area. This approach allowed the group to build trust, engage respectfully with community members, and increase awareness of services that many individuals may not have previously known existed.

The strategic action plan also focused on collaboration with existing community assets such as churches, nonprofit organizations, and local leaders. Rather than creating a completely new service, the group chose to strengthen awareness and utilization of programs already operating within the community. This approach promoted sustainability and demonstrated how advocacy efforts can support existing community resources.

Expected outcomes of the action plan included improved awareness of local support services, increased community engagement, and stronger connections between unhoused individuals and available resources. The action plan also provided group members with practical advocacy experience and demonstrated the importance of community-based interventions within social work practice.