Addressing Homelessness in Long Beach:  A Collaborative Focus

Homelessness is everywhere in our community and an issue that is on everyone’s mind.  While it seems as if good intentions and extensive resources should be able to fix the current crisis, the magic wand is not working as we would hope.  As a relatively recent “returnee” to Long Beach and a novice member and participant in the LBA chapters of both the League of Women Voters and the National Council of Jewish Women, I have focused my participation on the issue of homelessness.  Along with representatives Jane Bemis from LWV and Natalie Swit from NCJW, I have been attending relevant events and committee meetings.  The following is a summary of the focus of these agencies and potential opportunities for the involvement of our organizations and their members. 

Everyone Home Long Beach:

Mayor Robert Garcia recently announced this as a bold citywide plan to address the statewide homelessness crisis and its effects on Long Beach. Built on the efforts already underway by the city, Everyone Home Long Beach is intended to mobilize the entire community to create new pathways into affordable homes and to increase efforts to prevent residents in our area from becoming homeless.  This initiative will be guided by a task force of leaders, chaired by CSULB President Jane Conoley, who will meet and work with people experiencing homelessness as well as with students, community members, tenants, employers, property owners and service providers.  The task force will then prepare a comprehensive set of recommendations for review by the Mayor and City Council.  (As a member of the audience at their first meeting on June 15, 2018, I was impressed by the number of agencies represented and their reports on the significant and ongoing efforts of their organizations to deal with these issues.  The second meeting of the Task Force was held on July 20.  Check the website, http://www.longbeach.gov/everyone-home-long-beach/ for dates and locations of future meetings. 

LB Health Department

The Health Department is the key agency overseeing some of the services and programs related to the homeless in our area.  Its programs and services include the following:

-Continuum of Care

Since 1995, the Long Beach Health Department has led the Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC), a local planning body funded by HUD that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. It is the second largest of the four CoCs in Los Angeles County. 

-Multi-Service Center

Led by the Long Beach Health Department, the Multi-Service Center (MSC) facility houses 12 public and private partner organizations working together to promote self-sufficiency and rebuild the lives of those experiencing homelessness. Annually, the MSC averages 26,000 client visits, making this facility the primary point of entry for persons seeking homeless services assistance in Long Beach.  Services range from basic amenities of shower, laundry, mail and message center, to street outreach, van shuttle transportation, medical care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS services, integrated case management, and housing coordination. The mission of the MSC is to provide comprehensive supportive services to promote progress towards permanent housing and self-sufficiency, by creating a community where health, safety, and well-being are established.

-Homeless Count

The Long Beach Health Department conducts homeless enumerations every two years during the last Thursday of January. Collecting good data on the number, characteristics, and service needs of individuals, families, and unaccompanied children experiencing homelessness is a critical component of local homeless planning and program development. Accurate data helps the Long Beach CoC to understand changes in trends among homeless populations; adjust the types of programs and services available according to need and use resources as efficiently as possible; comply with reporting requirements; and measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness. 

Homeless Services Advisory Commission (HSAC)

Gathers information from homeless persons and makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council how to best meet the needs of the homeless community. Meets the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 pm; at the Multi-Service Center.  While I haven’t actually seen this occur, HSAC prepares annual reports, with the assistance of Health Department staff, on homelessness which are then forwarded to the Mayor and City Council.

Long Beach Homeless Coalition:

The Homeless Coalition, https://homelesslb.org/, includes any and all agencies working to serve and/or advocate for the homeless.  The coalition defines its mission:  To foster connection between individuals, groups, and organizations who desire to aid people experiencing homelessness.  During its monthly meetings (held on the first Wednesday of every month from 9 to 10 a.m. at Goodwill Headquarters, 800 West Pacific Coast Highway (near PCH and I-710). representatives of the various organizations have an opportunity to provide information about their actions and involvement, raise questions and collaborate with other organizations.  Anyone is welcome to attend. 

The Coalition includes among its accomplishments:

-Operating the Rainy-Day Shelter and supporting the Cold Weather Shelter

-Securing Navy surplus land for homeless housing at the Villages at Cabrillo

-Facilitating community dialogues on homeless-related topics and forums for police and homeless to air differences

-Participating in the design of the City’s 10-year Plan to End Homelessness and Housing        Element of the General Plan

Volunteer and Donation Opportunities:

Since members of both LWV and NCJW are activists and doers, here are a few suggestions for involvement:

-The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles has a very active committee on Homelessness that has published a powerful publication:  Yes in My LA!  A Guide to Supportive Housing, with a plan for its distribution at Neighborhood Councils and other community and agency meetings.  Both LWVLB and NCJWLB may want to consider something similar for use in our area. 

-Mayor's Fund for the Homeless is allocated regularly to programs in Long Beach that address significant service delivery gaps in the city’s Continuum of Care.  Donations to this fund have supported a variety of critical services, including relocation assistance, job training and placement services, winter shelter programs, food and transportation assistance and move-in assistance.  A contribution to the Mayor's Fund can make a difference.

-Volunteer Meal Programs:  Provide support with money, food or volunteer time to organizations already providing food to the homeless population.

-Give a Hand Up:  Provides suggestions on how to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Bottom Line:  There is lots going on in Long Beach to address the critical and complex issues related to homelessness.  I think all will agree that it is important for both the League of Women Voters and the National Council of Jewish Women to be represented at the collaborative tables.

Zhita Rea, July 2018