Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach, a bureau within the Department of Health and Human Services, is offering several incentives to encourage new housing providers to lease up with people who are assisted through its Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) and Housing Choice Voucher programs.

“Emergency Housing Vouchers are a critical resource in meeting the City’s housing needs,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We need property owners to be ‘all in’ when it comes to solving the homelessness crisis, and the City is willing to help landlords make the leap and open their rentals to voucher holders.”

The Housing Authority is providing monetary incentives – including direct payments to landlords – to cover leasing bonuses, security deposits, utility deposits, application fees, and damage mitigation or repairs. Additional resources are available to help EHV families with costs associated with moving, renter’s insurance and furnishing their units. 

“There are hundreds of people who have been issued vouchers but are still in search of housing,” said Health and Human Services Director Kelly Colopy. “These people are ready to match with a landlord, and we are doing everything we can to successfully pair participants with housing.”

Participating landlords are also supported through direct support by a dedicated Housing Authority team and constant communication through its Partners in Housing newsletter. Informational sessions for housing providers interested in supporting families can attend information sessions on Jan. 19, Feb. 15 or March 14. Visit longbeach.gov/haclb to sign up. Housing providers interested in learning more or signing up for an information session may can call 562.570.6985, e-mail HA-Owners@longbeach.gov or visit longbeach.gov/haclb.

As part of the 2021 American Rescue Act, the Housing Authority was awarded 582 emergency housing vouchers; to date, 357 participants have found housing. Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) are available to individuals and families who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness; were recently experiencing homelessness or housing instability; or fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking.