Long Beach’s Multi-Service Center will provide shelter, food, hygiene kits and services through March, 2024 on select nights.
When low temperatures, high winds or increased levels of rain hit Long Beach this winter, the Multi-Service Center will provide overnight shelter for up to 60 people through March 2024, the City announced Sunday.
Long Beach also opened its annual winter shelter earlier this month with 125 beds, food and access to services, which will operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day, through March 24, 2024.
The Multi-Service Center will provide 60 separate rooms for men and women, according to a statement from the City. The Center will open for overnight shelter for those experiencing homelessness when temperatures are forecasted 45 degrees or lower, a flood watch warning is issued or when the National Weather Service forecasts rain heavier than “light showers.”
“By activating our Multi-Service Center as an overnight shelter during these cold winter months, we are offering a vital lifeline for individuals who would otherwise be exposed to the harsh elements,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement.
The 2023 Long Beach Homeless Point-in-Time Count identified over 2,200 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Long Beach.
Homeless Services Bureau staff, REACH teams and Mobile Access Centers will conduct outreach to bring people into the centers who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness during times of activation. City staff will also utilize the Homelessness Text Alert Program and the City’s social media to provide information on how to access shelter.
Residents will be able to stay in the Multi-Service Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Those spending the night in the Center will receive a cot, a blanket, hygiene supplies, access to restrooms, a hot dinner, a small breakfast and links to supportive services from the Mobile Access Center. Residents will be required to leave in the morning and can re-enter in the evening if the Center is still required.
Recent reports by the National Weather Forecast estimate a record rainy season due to El Niño which is expected to bring increased rains, winds and low temperatures.
Long Beach residents can donate items for hygiene kits, blankets, coats, socks, sweaters, beanies, gloves, hand warmers and other cold-weather items at the Multi-Service Center. Those interested in volunteering with the City’s Medical Reserve Corps, which will be utilized to support staff coverage at the shelter, can sign up at www.longbeach.gov/mrc.
The Inclement Weather Shelter is funded through Measure H funds, also used for the Winter Shelter Program, as well as additional support from Los Angeles County.
Residents can follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media for updates.
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