Emergency Proclamation to Address Homelessness
Update 9
City Council Meeting – May 16, 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 Homelessness Emergency Metrics
4 Homelessness Emergency Metrics
• Decrease number of persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness o 381 currently enrolled in interim housing programs
o 24,313 bed nights in interim housing
• Increase permanent housing placements
o 165 currently enrolled in permanent housing programs
• Decrease number of persons falling into homelessness
o 289 households/$2.837 million for emergency rental assistance since emergency proclamation o 357 people have participated in the Homeless Prevention Program o 77 currently in program; 92% remain housed
• Increase intergovernmental (regional) partnerships to address the homeless crisis o 22 meetings held with partners
o 21 letters sent
o 38 agencies/offices engaged
5 Homelessness Emergency Goals - Update
6 Increase Access to Services
Immediate (<3 months)
✓ Increase access to services through Mobile Access Center ✓ Open temporary Safe Parking program
✓ Open RV Sanitation and Water Filling Site
✓ Launch text notification system to provide real-time information and connection to service location
Short Term (4 – 6 months)
✓ Provide business support services
✓ Increase access to mental health services throughout Long Beach
• Open long-term safe parking and safe RV parking
✓ Initiate discussions and collaboration on better models for local mental health services
7 Mobile Access Center:
1,109 Interactions
611 Accepted Services
Safe Parking:
657 Stays
Avg 17 vehicles per night
Business Support:
$350,000 in Grants
Multi Service Center:
14,373 Visits
Avg 189 people per day
Progress on Goals
Past two weeks:
• Working to finalizing alternate site for Safe Parking after Queensway ends on May 21
• Launched a new evening mental health services program, including 45-minute therapy session for sheltered and
unsheltered people experiencing homelessness
8 PD Quality of Life Contacts:
3,643
Encampment Visits with People:
512
279 accepted services
Next two weeks:
• Continue partnership conversations with LA County
Department of Health Services and LAHSA
• Increase outreach and education regarding availability of the RV Sanitation and Water Filling site
• Finalize location for an alternative Safe Parking site after Queensway ends on May 21
Increase Interim and Long-term Housing Access
Immediate (<3 months)
✓ Open Winter Shelter
✓ Create Landlord education campaign and outreach, including launch of outreach line
Short Term (4 – 6 months)
• Lease up all Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs)
• Identify and implement ongoing interim shelter site
• Formalize additional contracts with motels to take motel vouchers • Establish process for warming centers during cold weather beyond winter shelter program
9 Short-Term Warming Center:
60 Beds
Emergency Housing Vouchers:
91% Filled
Emergency Shelter:
81+ Beds
Outreach Line:
2,486 Calls & Emails
Progress on Goals
on Goals and Metrics
Past two weeks and next two weeks:
• Continue to conduct enhanced engagement with housing providers to boost participation
• Work to identify a long-term emergency shelter site
• Review sites for a potential Project Homekey application • Completing scope of work for Everyone Home 2.0 planning process • Housing Authority is working to update its Housing Choice Voucher List to ensure all on the list continue to be eligible and interested. 10 Build Capacity to Address Homelessness Crisis
Immediate (<3 months)
✓ Identify and apply for funding opportunities
• Identify specific roles and assistance from partner agencies such as Harbor, Utilities, and Long Beach Transit
✓ Make specific resource requests from the County, Metro, and State to build local Long Beach capacity
✓ Initiate regional discussions on building regional capacity in the Gateway Cities
Short Term (4 – 6 months)
• Identify and implement operational improvements in staffing, funding, and processes
• Secure one-time Measure H/HHAP funding for local investment 11 Reassigned Staffing:
15,551 Hours
Funding:
$13 Million Identified
New Grants:
$31M in Applications
$5.2M received
City Staff Reassigned:
146
Progress on Goals
Past two weeks:
• Met with Big City Mayors to learn more about the Senate’s proposed budget, which proposes to create an ongoing funding source for the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) program totaling $1 billion annually
• Engaged with consultants to identify grants to support efforts 12 Next two weeks:
• Continue evaluating potential Port of Long Beach properties that can support additional homelessness services
Engage Community in Data, Planning and Assistance
Immediate (<3 months)
✓ Launch dashboard featuring local homelessness data
✓ Implement community engagement and outreach process for homeless services-related efforts
✓ Incorporate the City’s commitments for site selection into Homelessness Activation
✓ Launch a donation effort to collect materials and engage the community in supporting City efforts
Short Term (4 – 6 months)
✓ Improve public access data for homelessness efforts
✓ Hold stakeholder meetings throughout Long Beach to engage community in idea generation, prioritization, and understanding ✓ Engage clergy and non-profits to bolster capacity
• Engage businesses in education and brainstorming
13 Dashboard Elements:
56 Data Points
Outreach Events:
9 Events
Donated Items:
10,595 items
6,391 distributed
Community Organizations:
62 signed up
Progress on Goals
Past two weeks:
• Refreshed Homelessness Dashboard on
May 4th. Restructured dashboard to
incorporate Point in Time Count,
prevention, and outcomes data.
Next two weeks:
14 • 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
Thank you
15 Kelly Colopy, Director
Department of Health and Human
Services
Eric Lopez, Director
Department of Public Works