Organizational Background

Established in 2012, Sahaba Initiative’s mission is to nurture healthy individuals and families in the Inland Empire through collaborating for social change, promoting health, and providing direct services. This is accomplished through the provision of mental health services, case management services, weekly food distribution and an emergency financial assistance program. At the core of Sahaba’s programs is their investment in a culture of service, and an organization centered around a holistic approach to service and community-based change.

Today, Sahaba operates two centers, a Family Resource Center and a new Food & Wellness Center. At the Family Resource Center, mental health services with licensed clinicians are offered, direct case management services, and emergency financial assistance. Sahaba is the only mental health care provider in the Inland Empire with specified expertise in providing care to Muslim-identifying individuals and families. These services are provided on a sliding scale basis, where the client is encouraged to contribute even a $1 to their care if they are unable to contribute more. The Food & Wellness Center, located in downtown San Bernardino, offers a weekly food pantry and will soon expand to include more days of the week, fresh produce and meat, as well as nutrition-focused workshops.

With the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan, and the resulting tens of thousands of refugees, SI became a safe haven for three large Afghan refugee families. Approaching their resettlement in the IE holistically, Sahaba assisted them every step as they adjusted to their new home environments. Overall, SI’s programs comprehensively address challenges that many underserved Inland Empire families are experiencing – inaccessibility to culturally grounded mental health care, food insecurity, resource inaccessibility, and financial insecurity. Sahaba strives to meet community members where they are, working alongside them to find and reach long-term solutions collaboratively.