Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, as part of its emergency response to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness, has launched the Long Beach Homelessness Text Alert program to connect residents who are unhoused with housing and support services and other resources. The new communications method will enhance the City’s existing outreach by providing timely updates directly to people needing the services.

“People experiencing homelessness are often on the move, and rely on their cell phone for information,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This text alert program will lower barriers to providing people with real-time information and access to resources.”

The Long Beach Homelessness Text Alert program will provide a variety of updates including:

• Operations updates for City-run services, such as the weekly schedule for the Mobile Access Center (MAC), additional services from partnering agencies available at the Multi-Service Center (MSC), and service capacity updates with alternative options, among others.
• How to sign up for programs such as Safe Parking or emergency shelters.
• Alerts for dangerous or inclement weather.

Those interested in signing up to receive text notifications can text keyword “HOME” to 99411. People interested in receiving updates must opt-in and can opt-out at any time. Standard messaging rates apply. City staff will promote this feature during intake at the MAC and MSC and while conducting street outreach so that people who can benefit from this are aware of it.

Research indicates a significant number of people experiencing homelessness have cell phones. This additional method of outreach will increase the City’s direct access to these individuals and connect even more to housing and support services.

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.