Emergency Proclamation to
Address Homelessness
Update 16
City Council Meeting - October 10, 2023
2 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.
3 • 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 Strategic Plan
4 Goals of the Emergency
Build overall capacity to improve our approach to this systemic societal problem Increase funding and resources available to implement new programs Speed up our overall response
Create longer-term goals and organizational structures to sustain work after the emergency
Housing
Behavioral
health
services
Prevention
Goals of the Emergency
5 Actions Taken the Past Four
Weeks
6 • The Mobile Access Center (MAC)
schedule for October was released
and will operate Monday through
Friday with varied hours and
locations
(https://longbeach.gov/homelessne
ss/homeless-services/)
• Launched the 2nd MAC to provide
services in multiple places
throughout the community,
extending MAC services reach
6 Progress – Increase Access to Services
7 • Hosted the sixth Donation Drive on September 23rd at the Health Department for the Multi Service Center with more than 2,000 items donated
• Identified a new safe parking location at Anaheim and Santa Fe that will open by the end of October. New site can host 50 vehicles and provide more stability for the safe parking program
• Staff continue to provide case management services at the Queensway Safe Parking program Monday through
Friday from 5-8pm. Will shift to the new site upon opening • Implemented Spanish language notifications for the Long Beach homelessness text alert program to increase
accessibility to services and resources
7 Progress – Increase Access to Services
8 • Completed 5950 Long Beach Blvd. (formerly Luxury Inn) outreach and canvassing to over 450 residents in the Longwood and Coolidge Triangle neighborhoods • Completed 5950 Long Beach Blvd. outreach and canvassing to over 20 businesses along the Long Beach Blvd. corridor
8 Progress – Engaging the Community
9 • Met with business owners who are near the new Safe
Parking site to provide education and answer questions
• Increased outreach with the Interdepartmental team to locations across the city.
• Health Department hosted the older adult housing work group to bring together community partners and
stakeholders
• Data incorporated with VA and LA County Department of Health Services
• Mental Health Transformation Bill – SB 326 will be on the ballot in March 2024
9 Progress – Engaging the Community
10 • With the award from the State for the second Encampment Resolution Grant, geared to focus on BJK Library, Lincoln Park and other downtown areas, the focus will be on increasing access to housing and services through
o Increased outreach engagements and supports;
o Including additional Fire and Police staffing within the encampment area; o Funding interim housing for 60 people; and
o Funding additional permanent housing resources to support 100 people • Submitted annual application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to renew existing Continuum of Care programs, as well as applied for $1.2 million in new funding to create additional housing programs • Met with Community Champions group on October 5th to explore ways in which the community can get further engaged in providing services 10 Progress – Building Capacity
11 • Provided status update and education to the community about the Tiny Home transitional housing project and why it is important to have interim housing solutions while people work to secure long term housing
• Finalized escrow with Rescue Mission for the 702 W. Anaheim Site for the long-term interim shelter
Progress – Interim and Long-Term Housing
12 Focus Areas for the Next
Four Weeks
13 • Meet with Los Angeles County and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to discuss upcoming funding opportunities with HHAP Round 5 as well as the recent court settlement by Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City • Continue to coordinate outreach to RV's in the West Side businesses areas near the LA River and the Magnolia Industrial Group (MIG)
• Staffed the mobile therapy and substance use program and will be working to launch over the next month
• Move the Safe Parking site from Queensway to the new location off Anaheim St • Continue to develop a plan for a second access point to expand capacity beyond the MSC
• Engage Los Angeles County DMH around timeline for reconvening co-located staffing at the MSC
13 Increase Access to Services
14 • Continue to educate the community about the importance of Tiny Homes
• Homelessness Emergency Dashboard data refresh on October 9, 2023 14 Engage Community
15 • Continue to work with identified community
champions to address homelessness as a
community
• Work with community champions, the County,
and city partners to identify inclement weather
sheltering locations in preparation for the cold,
wet months to come
• The Houghton Park workgroup has been
formed via the interdepartmental team and will
convene to address ongoing matters concerning
the park
• Work on getting positions and process going to
move towards the launch of the Encampment
Resolution Funds Round 2 program in
downtown
15 Build Capacity to Address the Crisis
16 • Begin planning process for 702 W. Anaheim and how
the property will be developed now that escrow has
closed. This will include:
o Permanent sleeping areas
o Indoor restrooms
o Indoor common space
• Three affordable housing projects that include
supportive housing units for PEH are in the process of
having people matched to units. Lease ups for those
matches will begin within the coming month at:
o Heritage Gardens
o Wellspring
o 26.2
16 Increase Interim and Long-Term Housing
17 Responses to Questions
from Previous Meeting
18 1) How are police officers kept informed regarding available beds, including beds at nonprofit organizations?
A) How are we providing shelter after hours for those who want it? 2) The LB Municipal Code currently prohibits sleeping in your car and sleeping on the beach between sunset and sunrise. Are these laws being enforced? If not, why not?
3) When do we enforce restrictions against encampments blocking rights of way? Can we ban encampments next to schools?
18 Questions from the Last City Council Report
19 Thank you
Kelly Colopy,
Health and Human Services Director
Teresa Chandler,
Deputy City Manager