The Long Beach Resource Line, a health-focused phone line that connected residents to essential services, will close on Sept. 30 due to a lack of funding.
The resource line was launched in 2020 to provide critical information and connection to services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial funding came from the Long Beach Recovery Act, specifically allocated to help cities recover from the pandemic.
Since 2020, the line has received over 10,000 calls and has connected over 9,000 people to City resources. These resources included housing, food access, health care, mental health, legal aid, transportation and more. Residents would receive immediate connection and referrals to health and social service providers over the phone.
The sunsetting of the resource line was not caused by loss of federal funding associated with Executive Orders or policy shifts under the current Presidential Administration, according to a press release from the City. All funding for the resource line has been temporary, and that support ended this year.
This will not result in any City staff layoffs, according to the City’s press release. Impacted staff were reassigned to other roles in the Health Department.
Due to the end of this program, Long Beach encourages residents to use alternative local resources:
- 2-1-1 LA: A nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential information and referrals connecting people in Los Angeles County to essential health, social and community services. People can browse resources online at 211la.org or dial 2-1-1 to be connected to a Community Resource Advisor. Assistance is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Unite Us Resource Referral Map: A free, centralized online hub where residents can search for, connect with and access local health, housing, food and social service resources in Long Beach through the coordinated-care network powered by Unite Us.
The Health Department also encourages community members to visit longbeach.gov/health to learn more about available programs and services offered by the Health Department.
