PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – As a result of funding cuts brought about by recent Executive Orders and policy shifts under the current Presidential Administration, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) has had to significantly modify services offered for STI/HIV prevention, education and treatment, which have been funded for many years by these federal funds.

As a result of this loss of funding of $1.3 million that has traditionally funded these important public health programs, the following services will no longer be offered by the Health Department:

• Mobile Testing Unit, which provided free HIV/STI testing at various locations in Long Beach
• HIV and STI testing and treatment services located at the Ron Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.)
• STI/HIV outreach and engagement services, including PrEP navigation services
• Sexual and Social Network, which provided outreach, education and testing to social and sexual networks of high-risk individuals

The Health Department’s Sexual Health Clinic (2525 Grand Ave.) will still offer comprehensive sexual health services, including STI testing, PrEP and PEP, and STI treatment for a fee (sliding/reduced fees based on income). Appointments are encouraged, though walk-in services are also available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to provider availability.

Nearly 4,000 people in Long Beach are living with HIV or AIDS. The work undertaken by the Health Department has contributed to a 5.8% reduction in HIV rates from 2023-2024 as well as a 70% rate of viral suppression for those living with HIV in 2023. The Department is compiling a full list of community partnerships that may have available testing and screening services and people are encouraged to visit  longbeach.gov/stitesting for up-to-date information.

Long Beach is not alone in experiencing these impacts due to loss of federal funding. Reductions to programs were also seen across the country and regionally in Los Angeles County, which provides health services to those outside Long Beach.

The City of Long Beach is committed to keeping the community informed of the ongoing developments related to the loss, and possible future loss, of federal funding and its impacts on local programs provided by the City.

Community members are encouraged to stay up to date on the latest local impacts by visiting longbeach.gov/FedFundingUpdates.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services Public Affairs Office at he-publicaffairs@longbeach.gov.