Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is extending operations of its Winter Shelter, which shields people experiencing homelessness from inclement weather during the coldest time of the year by providing shelter, food, safety and connections to resources and services. The Long Beach Winter Shelter was originally scheduled to conclude operations on March 31; however, as a humanitarian effort to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people experiencing homelessness during the ongoing cold, wet winter weather, the City has extended operations through April 30.

"With the unprecedented amount of rain and extremely cold temperatures, people experiencing homelessness have endured unusually harsh elements this winter,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The extension of our Winter Shelter will continue to provide a warm place for people to rest with safety and dignity. This is a much-needed asset for these community members, and I am grateful for the support we’ve received for this extension.”

Since beginning operations in mid-December, the Winter Shelter, which can accommodate 81 people a night, has provided shelter to 217 people and has been consistently at full capacity each night.

Prior to extending shelter operations, City staff, in partnership with Third District Councilmember Kristina Duggan, hosted a community meeting at Brewitt Neighborhood Library on March 9 to discuss plans for the extension with residents ahead of time and offer an opportunity for people to ask questions.

"The Winter Shelter is a critical resource for people experiencing homelessness,” said Third District Councilmember Kristina Duggan. “Many people have utilized this shelter so far this year – some who have been there nightly since December. I am pleased it will continue operations through April so even more people can rest comfortably at night.”

Located this year at Community Hospital in East Long Beach, the Long Beach Winter Shelter is accessible only for program participants via the Winter Shelter bus, which makes daily pick-ups at the Long Beach Multi-Service Center (MSC) in the early evening and provides transportation back to the MSC (1301 W. 12th St.) in the mornings. The Winter Shelter operates 24 hours a day in partnership with nonprofit First to Serve Outreach Ministries and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA).

Required in order to extend shelter operations was an amended lease agreement between the City and MWN Community Hospital LLC, which owns building. The extended lease agreement was authorized by the City Manager, permissible under the City’s homelessness emergency proclamation. The extended lease agreement permits the use of Community Hospital to serve as the Winter Shelter location through April 30.

The City continues work to identify another location to offer at least as many beds as available at the current Winter Shelter location so that it can continue to provide these services after April 30.

Additionally, in effort to offer more safe, warm space during the winter months, on Feb. 26 the City began utilizing the MSC to house 60 warming beds to protect people experiencing homelessness from the unusually low temperatures. The warming beds have continued to be available on select nights, typically when there is forecasted rain or temperatures below 45 degrees, and on a first-come, first-served basis. Approximately 40 to 50 people utilize the warming beds each night.

For more information about the Winter Shelter, people can call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500 or review the FAQs.

For more information on the City’s efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach, people may visit longbeach.gov/homelessness and follow @lbhealthdept and @longbeachcity on social media and follow the hashtag #EveryoneHomeLB.