The City of Long Beach has secured a $5.3 million grant from the State of California’s Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) initiative to address homelessness in Downtown Long Beach.
The ERF grant program was established by the State of California to address the needs of individuals living in homeless encampments, while freeing up these public spaces to be used as intended.
These funds will be used to address homelessness in parts of Downtown Long Beach that have shown a high level of need, such as Lincoln Park, Billie Jean King Main Library, segments of the Downtown Entertainment District, the Metro platforms, the Promenade and Harvey Milk Promenade Park.
“This significant new funding will enable us to get our unhoused neighbors the supportive services and housing they need and support a healthy, safe and welcoming environment for library and park patrons,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a statement from the city.
The decision to concentrate efforts on this area stems from data indicating that a significant number of individuals experiencing homelessness here face particularly acute physical and behavioral health service needs. Additionally, this location has witnessed the highest number of overdose-related deaths, often linked to untreated trauma and mental health conditions.
The grant will enable City Outreach staff to conduct outreach efforts and provide services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the area. Moreover, the funding will also support immediate interim and emergency shelter solutions, with the long-term goal of transitioning people into permanent housing.
Sixty non-congregate shelter units will be made available for one year, offering immediate refuge. Simultaneously, the initiative aims to transition 125 encampment residents into permanent housing through the provision of rental assistance and supportive services.
“It is of the utmost importance to me that everyone in our community is able to enjoy our parks, libraries and public spaces. At the same time, I want everyone to be able to go home to somewhere safe and stable with peace of mind,” First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas said in a public statement. “This funding is going to allow us to create more of those possibilities for people experiencing homelessness and that is very meaningful.”
This isn’t the City’s first encounter with the State ERF grant. In June 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the newest round of funding at MacArthur Park in Long Beach, a community that had benefited from the first round of ERF funding.
The initial efforts resulted in 40 individuals gaining access to immediate shelter. In the last year, 13 people transitioned into permanent housing, while 25 individuals continue to receive case management to secure their own permanent residences.
“We have successfully done this before, and we will do it again—supporting our neighbors with critical services, helping them achieve housing stability and creating welcoming public spaces for all,” Health and Human Services Director Kelly Colopy said in a public statement.
For more information about the City of Long Beach’s response to homelessness, visit longbeach.gov/homelessness. Stay updated on the City’s progress by following @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media.
More waste of tax payer money. Haven’t we had propositions that raised money to address homelessness? I saw a video that showed a City of Long Beach van and staff who spent a day doing nothing while waiting for homeless people to come to get help. After being there a whole day, they had only one person approach them for help.
Oh I do believe that for certain. I’m one of those homeless people. I’ve been here from iowa sice October of last year I went to no avail to get help from the multi service center that was a nightmare there they turned me away. I did everything they asked me to do and got nowhere the person running that place his name is Taylor he and his staff was absolutely no help to me.
The homeless must avail themselves of the housing and services that are already available. They cannot be allowed to camp wherever they want, litter, relieve themselves and become threats and health hazards. I believe special housing/detention centers should be established for those homeless who don’t want the rules of missions. If these homeless refuse the help available at missions then they should be taken into custody for the detention centers. This system would not be jail or prison but it would be mandatory for the hard-core homeless offenders.
This is such a monumental waste of people’s money. What I learned working in an ER was that the resources have always been there for the homeless who really want to change their status. But there are many lifers with behavioral, psych, and substance abuse issues who don’t want those resources with their rules and expectations. And this was before the homeless population skyrocketed with enough trash to remind me of the 3rd world country I came from.
The money will disappear and there will still be a problem.