Emergency Proclamation to Address Homelessness
Update 8
City Council Meeting – May 2, 2023
Mission Statement
To reduce the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the City and the region by increasing housing opportunities and by enhancing current initiatives that provide field-based outreach, engagement, and supportive services while maintaining the safety and security of the people experiencing homelessness, the general public and staff, and improving overall public safety for the entire community.
2 Homelessness Strategic Plan
• The Statement of Possibility from the
Everyone Home Homelessness Strategic
Plan continues to define success in Long
Beach in its mission to end homelessness.
• Statement of Possibility: The experience of
homelessness in Long Beach is rare and
brief when it occurs.
3 2023 Homeless Count
4 2023 Homeless Count
5 2023 Homeless Count
6 2023 Homeless Count
7 2023 Homeless Count
8 2023 Homeless Count – Shelter Status
9 2023 Homeless Count
10 2023 Homeless Count
11 2023 Homeless Count – Underlying Causes
12 2023 Homeless Count - Conditions
13 2023 Homeless Count
14 Actions Taken in the Past Two Weeks
15 Progress on Goals
Increase access to services
• Beginning on April 26th, Mental Health After Hours will be offered Monday through Friday from 6pm to 9pm. Mental Health Clinicians will support congregate and non-congregate facilities in Long Beach. • Expanded MAC services to new sites in Long Beach. The schedule for May includes:
16 MONDAY
9am – 12pm Los Altos Shopping Center
1:30pm – 4pm Outer Traffic Circle
TUESDAY
9am – 12pm Houghton Park
1:30pm – 4pm Ramona Park
WEDNESDAY
9am – 12pm Billie Jean King Library
1:30pm – 4pm 6th and Long Beach Blvd
THURSDAY 9am – 12pm Drake Park
FRIDAY 9am – 12pm Alamitos and Rosie's Dog Beach
Progress on Goals
Increase interim and long-term housing
access
• Received 79 new Housing Authority
stability vouchers for people who are
experiencing or at-risk of homelessness
• Opened a Temporary Emergency Shelter
on April 25 with 85+ beds for people
experiencing homelessness at 702 W.
Anaheim
17 Progress on Goals
Engage Community in data, planning and
assistance
• Hosted the second drive-thru donation event at
Main Health Department (2525 Grand Ave.) on
April 29th from 9am to 1pm
• Outreached to Education Partners at Long Beach
City College, California State University Long
Beach, and Long Beach Unified School District
• Announced the 2023 Homeless Count Findings
18 Progress on Goals
Build capacity to address homelessness crisis
• Met with Speaker Rendon’s staff to discuss Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) funding
• Met with LA Metro to discuss the LA Metro Service Hub • Participated in Gateway Cities Council of Governments Homelessness Technical Advisory Committee to discuss regional efforts to address homelessness.
• Engaged with consultants to identify grants to support efforts 19 Focus Areas for the Next Two Weeks
20 Focus For Next Two Weeks
Increase access to services
• Continue partnership conversations with LA County Department of Health Services and LAHSA
• Increase outreach and education regarding availability of the Safe Parking site and RV Sanitation and Water Filling site.
21 Focus For Next Two Weeks
Engage community in data, planning and assistance
• Plan an Interfaith convening of faith organizations from across the City who are committed to supporting the efforts of not only the emergency response, but ongoing after the emergency has been lifted
• Outreach to Early Childhood Education stakeholders to engage a larger education discussion
• Launch expanded data dashboard on May 4 to include emergency proclamation metrics
22 Focus For Next Two Weeks
Build capacity to address homelessness crisis
• Continue evaluating potential Port of Long Beach properties that can support additional homelessness services
• Continue to staff up the Homeless Services Bureau to address case management and public health nursing needs
• Continue to engage LA County on request to support emergency activities • Reorganizing/streamlining some of the EOC workgroups to initiate a more focused approach to homelessness prevention, including policies and programming 23 Focus For Next Two Weeks
on Goals and Metrics
Increase interim and long-term housing access
• Continue to conduct enhanced engagement with housing providers to boost participation in Emergency Housing Voucher Program
• Continue evaluating other properties citywide (both public and private) that could be temporarily used or acquired to further support homeless services housing opportunities
24 Response to Questions from Previous Meeting
25 26
Questions for Follow Up
• What is the updated emergency housing voucher data?
• Response: 529 people have been housed utilizing the Emergency Housing Vouchers for a 91% match rate.
Thank you
27 Kelly Colopy, Director
Department of Health and Human
Services
Eric Lopez, Director
Department of Public Works