San Mateo County opens major Fashion Island service hub expected to assist hundreds of residents daily
San Mateo, California – A building once sitting empty at Fashion Island is about to become one of San Mateo County’s busiest points of public service. Beginning September 14, hundreds of County employees will work there, helping residents through everything from job loss and food assistance to health coverage and family crises.
The scale is substantial. The new Human Services Agency location at 1500 Fashion Island Blvd. is expected to serve about 165 people in person and roughly 700 more by phone every day.
The County-owned facility will bring together 354 employees from Employment Services, Economic Self-Sufficiency and Children and Family Services. Residents will be able to access benefit eligibility assistance and a full-service Resource Center serving children, families, older adults, people with disabilities, job seekers and others needing support.
“This is about making it easier for San Mateo County residents to connect with the safety net services they need,” Human Services Agency Director Claire Cunningham said.
Cunningham said many people seeking assistance may have lived in the county for decades before an unexpected event — such as illness, a lost job, a family crisis or higher living costs — disrupted their stability. The agency’s goal, she said, is to help residents regain stability and self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.
The Fashion Island site was also designed around the client experience, with public areas intended to be welcoming, accessible and simple to navigate. Housing multiple teams in one location is expected to improve coordination when a resident needs help from more than one program.
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The move carries a significant financial impact as well. It is part of a multiyear County strategy to shift services away from leased buildings and into County-owned properties.
After the Harbor Campus in Belmont was sold in 2021, the Human Services Agency and other County departments that operated there faced sharply higher leasing costs under the property’s new ownership. With the Fashion Island transition completed, the County projects annual lease-cost savings of about $7.2 million.
“With this move, we are strengthening our ability to serve residents while making a responsible long-term investment of County resources,” County Chief Executive Officer Mike Callagy said.
Board of Supervisors President Noelia Corzo described the new facility as an investment in both the community and the people who live there, emphasizing equity, dignity and easier access to services.
The broader Fashion Island campus already includes the County’s Family Justice Center at 1510 Fashion Island Blvd., further concentrating key public services in the area.
