The City of Long Beach recently unveiled a new Homekey interim housing facility at 5950 Long Beach Blvd., once the site of a luxury inn.
The facility contains 78 upgraded units, along with 12 that are Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible, providing safe shelter and onsite supportive services as part of the State’s Homekey Initiative. Through this initiative, residents experiencing homelessness are set up in temporary units to help them transition to permanent housing.
The newly renovated rooms include bathrooms, lighting, upgraded fixtures, microwaves, refrigerators, and on-site laundry in every unit, along with a new fire sprinkler system, drought-tolerant landscaping, improved common areas, and ADA-compliant access throughout the facility.
“We’ve turned a once-nuisance motel into a welcoming, supportive space for people on the path from homelessness to stability,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “We are committed to expanding interim housing options in Long Beach, as well as addressing homelessness through compassion and dignity, because everyone deserves a safe place to sleep and a real chance to build a more stable future.”
The new facility will be operated by First to Serve, offering residents onsite comprehensive resources and services designed to address housing crises efficiently.
Residents in the new facility will receive:
- Case management to become document-ready, access benefits and employment opportunities and secure permanent housing.
- Three meals a day.
- Health and safety support, including Narcan-trained staff and trauma-informed security.
- Coordinated housing referrals for smooth transitions to permanent homes.
Access to supportive services and programs is by referral from the City’s multi-service center (MSC) or mobile access center (MAC).
“This transformation of the former Luxury Inn proves that we can take a community nuisance and turn it into a place of profound hope,” said Eighth District Councilmember Tunua Thrash-Ntuk in a public statement. “At the new Homekey at 5950, residents will find more than safe shelter; they will find the stability and support to begin their journey to permanent housing.”
Homekey at 5950 was funded through combined State Homekey grants, the City’s General Fund, Measure A, and AB32 funds. The renovation joins with other homeless services projects completed in Long Beach, such as the Youth Shelter and Navigation Center and Homekey at 1725.
More information about Homekey at 5950 is available by visiting the project webpage.
