PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – To support people experiencing homelessness over the cold winter months, the City of Long Beach has announced its plans for winter shelter operations and the inclement weather center.

“As temperatures start to dip, we are preparing to take action to provide our neighbors experiencing homelessness with extra care and resources,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Opening additional shelter beds is about more than comfort–it can save lives.”

Winter Shelter
The City’s Emergency Shelter, located at 702 W. Anaheim St., will transition to winter shelter operations, expanding its nightly occupancy from 85 to up to 125 people, from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2025. The shelter will operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week, in partnership with nonprofit First to Serve Outreach Ministries and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which also funds the extra seasonal beds.

In addition to amenities including three meals per day, onsite showers and restrooms, an enclosed outdoor area and space for service animals and pets, shelter participants will have access to a variety of services, including housing-focused case management, screening for housing programs, referrals to year-round shelter programs, assistance obtaining identification and documents and connections to behavioral health resources.

“The winter shelter is a key component in our strategy to support people experiencing homelessness,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “By expanding operations, we are not only providing our neighbors who are unhoused a safe and warm place during the winter months but also access to critical resources and services that can help them on their journey toward stable housing.”

In order to access the Winter Shelter, people will first need a referral from the Multi-Service Center (MSC) or Mobile Access Center.

Inclement Weather Center
In addition to the City’s 390 year-round shelter beds and 40 winter shelter beds, the City will utilize its MSC to serve as an emergency overnight shelter site during extreme weather conditions to provide temporary low-barrier, safe and supportive emergency shelter for up to 60 people, with separate rooms for men and women.

Living on the street or in a structure not fit for human habitation makes people extremely vulnerable to adverse weather like cold, rain or wind, creating a higher risk of hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, heart attacks from overexertion, and other sickness. The inclement weather center reduces these risks by providing a warm, dry and safe space for people to sleep overnight during the colder months.

Effective immediately, the inclement weather center may be activated when any of the following occur:

• Forecasted temperatures of 45° F or lower
• A flood watch or warning has been issued by the National Weather Service
• Weather forecasts predict rain that exceeds light showers

Participants will receive a cot and blanket, access to restrooms and hygiene supplies, a hot dinner and small breakfast, support from City staff and security services, and linkages to supportive services via the MSC. All participants will be required to vacate the facility in the morning and may reenter when standard MSC operations commence for connections to supportive services. When activated, Homeless Services Bureau staff, including general outreach, REACH teams and the Mobile Access Centers, will mobilize to notify people experiencing unsheltered homelessness of the shelter opportunity. City staff will also utilize the Homelessness Text Alert Program and the City’s social media to provide information on how to access shelter.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.