Health & Human services

City Seeks Community Input on Homelessness in Long Beach 3/16/2023 Long Beach, CA – As part of the City of Long Beach’s mission to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by increasing housing opportunities, enhancing current initiatives and addressing and improving overall public safety for the entire community, the City has launched a survey seeking community members’ knowledge and perceptions of homelessness in Long Beach to garner feedback to further inform City resources, services and response efforts. The survey is now available at longbeach.gov/homelessness.

Emergency Response Information Now Available on Long Beach’s Homelessness Services and Information Hub Website 3/16/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has launched a new tab on its Homelessness Services and Information Hub website detailing the City’s response efforts for the homelessness state of emergency. The new tab, available at longbeach.gov/homelessness, will offer a one-stop-shop for City news, data and resources surrounding the homelessness crisis and will also support the City’s efforts to provide timely, transparent information to the public.

Some Long Beach Beaches Temporary Closed Due to Sewage Spill 3/15/2023 Long Beach City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, ordered all swimming areas West of the Belmont Pier in Long Beach temporarily closed for water contact due to a sewage spill. State law requires temporary closure and posting at beaches in these situations, out of an abundance of caution, until the water quality meets State requirements.

City of Long Beach Seeks Partnerships with Community Organizations to Serve Residents Experiencing Homelessness 3/15/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is seeking partnerships with community organizations and local companies that are interested in partnering with the City of Long Beach to collaborate with the City’s homelessness emergency response and assist in serving residents experiencing homelessness.

Long Beach Launches New Dashboard Featuring Local Homelessness Data 3/14/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has launched a new data dashboard showcasing local homelessness data, including demographics of people experiencing homelessness and data on the various housing and support services offered by the City. The dashboard is part of the City’s commitment to aiding the most vulnerable members of the Long Beach community and will serve as an accountability platform that will provide timely, transparent data to the public. 

Long Beach to Host Donation Drive Thru to Support People Experiencing Homelessness 3/13/2023 Long Beach, CA – On Saturday, March 18, the City of Long Beach will host a drive thru donation event to collect essential items for people experiencing homelessness. The donation drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Veterans Stadium (5000 E. Lew Davis St.) parking lot located on East Conant Street. 

Long Beach Health Department Announces Second Year of Measure US Community Grant Opportunities to Support Summer Youth Programming 3/10/2023 Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is initiating its second year of Measure US fund disbursements via three rounds of community grant opportunities to support youth development efforts in Long Beach.

City Issues Rain Advisory Due to Recent Showers 3/10/2023 Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis has issued a rain advisory for recreational beaches and bays in the City of Long Beach following the rain experienced in the last 24 hours. After any significant rainfall, unhealthy conditions may result from increased runoff from storm drain outlets and rivers, which eventually reach the City’s beaches. Recreational swimming areas should be avoided for three days following the end of a rainstorm. This advisory will be extended if the rain continues.

Long Beach Continues Enhanced Homeless Services Outreach, Continues to Deploy Mobile Access Center Through March 3/3/2023 Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach will continue to deploy its Mobile Access Center (MAC) through March, this month focusing on service areas throughout Long Beach. This outreach will continue to allow Homeless Services Bureau staff to conduct meaningful engagement and continue to build relationships, an essential component in increasing access to resources and services. 

Open Letter to the Community Regarding Silverado Shelter 2/28/2023 An Open Letter to the Community Regarding Silverado Shelter.

Long Beach Launches Donation Drive to Support People Experiencing Homelessness 2/27/2023 Long Beach, CA – As part of the City of Long Beach’s mission to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, the City has launched a donation drive to collect a variety of essential physical items to provide to residents who are unhoused. Community members are encouraged to join the effort by donating items in need.

Multi-Service Center Will Set up 60 Warming Beds February 26 through March 5 2/26/2023 Long Beach, CA – As a result of consistently windy, cold and wet weather in Long Beach, the City will set up 60 warming beds beginning today, Feb. 26, through at least Sunday, March 5, for people experiencing homelessness. The beds will be located at the Multi-Service Center (1301 W. 12th St.). The warming beds will be removed every morning ahead of MSC operations, which begin at 8 a.m. on weekdays.

Long Beach Ends COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation 2/24/2023 Long Beach, CA - In alignment with the State of California, and amid a robust vaccine, testing and treatment infrastructure for COVID-19, the Long Beach City Council approved with an 8 to 0 vote to end the City’s local COVID-19 emergency proclamation during the Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, Council meeting, effective immediately. The City’s Health Department will continue to manage the necessary resources to address this ongoing public health burden.

City Issues Rain Advisory Due to Recent Showers 2/23/2023 Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis has issued a rain advisory for recreational beaches and bays in the City of Long Beach following the rain experienced in the last 24 hours. After any significant rainfall, unhealthy conditions may result from increased runoff from storm drain outlets and rivers, which eventually reach the City’s beaches. Recreational swimming areas should be avoided for three days following the end of a rainstorm. This advisory will be extended if the rain continues.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson to Host Community Forum with Local Housing Providers 2/15/2023 Long Beach, CA – As part of the City of Long Beach’s mission to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by increasing housing opportunities, enhancing current initiatives and addressing and improving overall public safety for the entire community, Mayor Rex Richardson will host a community forum with local housing providers where he will share details about the City’s monetary incentives to encourage new owners, landlords and other housing providers to lease up with people assisted through the Housing Authority’s Choice Voucher and Emergency Housing Voucher programs. Local housing providers are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn about these incentives and engage in meaningful discussions to aid in the City’s efforts to combat homelessness.

City of Long Beach Shares Resources Available to Community for Addressing Issues Related to Homelessness 2/9/2023 The City’s stated mission is to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach by increasing housing opportunities, enhancing current initiatives and addressing and improving overall public safety for the entire community. The City has an active Interdepartmental Team that works together to develop solutions, create procedures and protocols for street teams and address issues related to community members experiencing homelessness. 

Long Beach City Council Approves Allocation of $13 Million in One-Time Funds to Support Homelessness Emergency Response 2/9/2023 Long Beach, CA – At the Feb. 7, 2023, meeting, the Long Beach City Council approved with a 6 to 3 vote the allocation of $13 million in one-time funds from Fiscal Year 2022 year-end results, to support the City’s emergency response to homelessness and various associated priority projects across multiple departments.

City of Long Beach Selects Firm to Design and Build Tiny Homes for People Experiencing Homelessness 2/9/2023 Long Beach, CA - On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, the Long Beach City Council approved, with a 9 to 0 vote, the awarding of a contract to Los Angeles-based firm, Connect Homes, for the design, manufacturing, delivery and installation of 30 to 35 modular non-congregate shelter units (Tiny Homes) to safely house people experiencing homelessness. 

Long Beach Health Department Awarded $100,000 to Address Vaccine Hesitancy 2/6/2023 Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) has been selected as one of only three local health departments, among others across the nation, to be awarded $100,00 to address vaccine hesitancy. In partnership with the National Association of County and City Health Officials, who also provided funding for the project, the Health Department will receive training, technical assistance and other resources to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, build partnerships with local organizations, and identify areas of need to improve vaccine confidence and uptake.

City of Long Beach to Provide Sanitation and Water Filling Services to People Living in Recreational Vehicles 2/3/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach will offer a new space that provides people experiencing homelessness and currently living in recreational vehicles (RVs) with sanitation and water-filling services. A Revocable Facility Use permit approval for the new site was authorized by the Board of Utilities Commissioners during the Thursday, Feb. 2 meeting, and approved with a 4 to 0 vote. 

Additional Winter Shelter Doubling City's Capacity to Open in West Long Beach in February 2/3/2023 The City of Long Beach will open an additional Winter Shelter in February in an effort to increase access to critical shelter and resources for people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach.

City to Extend Homelessness Emergency Outreach Efforts in the Downtown Area in February 2/1/2023 Long Beach, CA – Due to the consistent demand for services, the City’s Mobile Access Center (MAC) will extend its street outreach efforts in Downtown Long Beach during the month of February. This focused outreach will allow Homeless Services Bureau staff to conduct meaningful engagement and continue to build relationships, an essential component in increasing access to resources and services. Data show that some people are contacted 10 or more times before becoming open to receiving services.

City Announces Business Improvement Districts Grant Awards Under the Visual Improvement Program 1/30/2023 Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach announced a total of $100,000 in new Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Grant awards, which will support sidewalk activation, special events, and clean and safe initiatives. This program is in addition to the existing LB Recovery Act funding for BID Grants.

City Establishes Field Command Center in Response to Homelessness Emergency 1/30/2023 Long Beach, CA – Today, the City of Long Beach established a Field Command Center in effort to provide immediate and critical support and resources in the City’s homelessness emergency response. The Field Command Center will serve as a location for the City’s Interdepartmental Team to further coordinate planning and services for the downtown area. 

Two Long Beach COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Clinics to Relocate and Expand Operations 1/27/2023 Long Beach, CA – Beginning Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, the City of Long Beach-operated COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites at both Long Beach City College locations (Veterans Stadium and Pacific Coast Campus) will relocate and expand operations to El Dorado Park Recreation Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Park Central Facilities Center, offering additional pediatric clinics and indoor services to be more accommodating of the community’s current needs. Since the start of the pandemic, the Health Department has conducted more than 1,070,400 tests and administered more than 351,900 doses of vaccine. The Health Department will continue to operate COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinics up to seven days a week.

City Announces Visual Improvement Grants Available for Small Businesses Impacted by Crime and Vandalism 1/27/2023 Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach announced the availability of grant funds through the Visual Improvement Grant program, which will support local businesses impacted by crime and vandalism on or after Oct. 1, 2022.

Housing Authority to Provide Program Incentives for Property Owners in Long Beach 1/17/2023 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. 

City Announces Donation Campaign for Mayor’s Fund for Homeless Action 1/13/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is launching a donation campaign to raise money for the Mayor’s Fund for Homeless Action (Mayor’s Fund). Donations from residents, businesses and community organizations will support grants to organizations in Long Beach that address significant needs of people and families in the community who are experiencing homelessness.

City of Long Beach Centralizes Homelessness Emergency Response Efforts Downtown, Deploys Mobile Access Vehicle 1/12/2023 Long Beach, CA – In an effort to more strategically conduct outreach to people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, the City of Long Beach has begun centralizing emergency response efforts in the Downtown area, expanding street outreach and deploying a new Mobile Access Center vehicle. These mobilization efforts, which will continue over the next three weeks in the Downtown area, were announced during a press conference earlier today, where Mayor Rex Richardson and other City leaders delivered updates regarding the City’s proclamation of a local homelessness emergency.

Work Groups Established to Respond to Homelessness Emergency in Long Beach 1/11/2023 Long Beach, CA – Following the proclamation of a local homelessness emergency in Long Beach yesterday, Jan. 10, City leadership has established an Incident Command Center and identified nine work groups consisting of 100 people to take on the various aspects of homelessness emergency response.

Homelessness Proclaimed an Emergency in Long Beach 1/10/2023 Long Beach, CA – Today, the Long Beach City Council adopted, in an 8-0 vote, the City Manager’s proclamation of a local homelessness emergency. The item was proposed by Mayor Rex Richardson and co-sponsored by downtown Councilmember Mary Zendejas. The local emergency will strengthen the City’s preparedness and ability to respond to homelessness.

City Seeks Partners to Help Increase Fresh Produce in Priority Neighborhood Markets 1/6/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is seeking to partner with one or more qualified organizations to increase the availability of low-cost, culturally relevant, produce in priority neighborhoods in Long Beach through their Produce to Market Program. 

City Issues Rain Advisory Due to Recent Showers 12/27/2022 Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis has issued a rain advisory for recreational beaches and bays in the City of Long Beach following the rain experienced in the last 24 hours.

City of Long Beach Leaders Meet to Discuss Possible Emergency Response to Homelessness Crisis 12/23/2022 Long Beach, CA – On December 22, 2022 at the City’s Emergency Operations Center, Mayor Rex Richardson addressed senior leaders from the City of Long Beach before City Manager Tom Modica and City staff convened in a strategic discussion regarding the growing crisis of homelessness.

City of Long Beach Encourages Residents to Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season 12/23/2022 Long Beach, CA – The holiday season is a time for joyous celebrations, beloved traditions, and long-awaited gatherings with family and friends. With the winter holidays in full swing and New Year's quickly approaching, the City of Long Beach is offering the following tips to ensure everyone has a safe, healthy and enjoyable holiday season.

Official City of Long Beach Statement Regarding Forthcoming City Council Consideration of Local Emergency in Response to Homelessness Crisis 12/21/2022 Today, Dec. 21, 2022, Mayor Rex Richardson, in partnership with Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, requested City Manager Tom Modica to bring an item before the City Council for consideration requesting the Council to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency related to homelessness. The emergency proclamation, in response to the City’s homelessness crisis, will allow the City to mobilize local resources, coordinate interagency response, accelerate procurement of housing units and seek assistance from the State and Federal governments. 

City Launches New Homeless Services and Information Hub Webpage 12/21/2022 Long Beach, CA – Today the City of Long Beach launched a new Homeless Services and Information Hub webpage, now available at longbeach.gov/homelessness. The webpage was developed in an effort to provide a one-stop-shop of resources and information for the public and to offer a more open and transparent platform regarding homelessness in Long Beach. The webpage serves as a multifaceted information and resource hub for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Long Beach and as a localized platform where all community members can learn more about the City’s efforts to combat the homeless crisis and how to get involved.  

Health Department Reports Significant Decline in Mpox Cases 12/19/2022 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has made great progress in addressing mpox since the first local case was reported on July 16, 2022. A comprehensive approach including vaccination, outreach in the community and other public health response efforts have contributed to a significant decline in new cases.

Winter Shelter to Open in East Long Beach This Week 12/19/2022 Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Winter Shelter, which shields people experiencing homelessness from inclement weather and provides shelter, food, safety and services during the coldest time of year, is expected to open this week at Community Hospital, located near the traffic circle in East Long Beach.

City Now Offering Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines to Children Ages 6 Months and Older 12/16/2022 Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is now offering bivalent COVID-19 vaccines to children 6 months of age and older. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization for both Pfizer and Moderna to include the bivalent vaccines for children younger than 5 on Dec. 8, followed by approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Dec. 9. The bivalent vaccines will provide increased protection against the omicron variant that has been circulating since last year. 

Long Beach Moves into CDC’s Medium Tier of the COVID-19 Community Levels as Cases Rise 12/9/2022 Long Beach, CA – With COVID-19 cases rising, the City of Long Beach has entered the Medium (Yellow) Tier of COVID-19 Community Level, the second of three tiers outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is urging residents to be vigilant and take preventative steps to slow the spread of COVID-19. 

City to Host Health Permit Workshop for Mobile Food Vendors and Food Truck Operators 12/1/2022 Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) will host a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 13, for mobile food vendors, including street food vendors and food truck operators. The workshop will provide information about obtaining a Long Beach Health Permit as well as upcoming changes to the California Retail Food Code.