Assistance Programs

• First-Time Homebuer Assistance Program: Facilitated by the Development Services Department, the Program, which is a grant and not a loan or mortgage service, will assist low- and moderate-income families traditionally underrepresented in homeownership with purchasing their first home and building multi-generational wealth. Applicants will need to be first-time homebuyers presently residing within a federal Community Development Block Grant designated census tract in Long Beach, among other requirements. More program details, including eligibility information, and applying are available on the Program website at longbeach.gov/lbhomegrant.

• Long Beach Pledge: The Long Beach Pledge will serve single headed families with children living at or below the poverty line in the 90813 zip code. More program details, including eligibility, are available on the Long Beach Pledge website at www.longbeachpledge.org. The online application period is now Closed on longbeachpledge.org/apply and is no longer available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Applicants without computer or smartphone access may visit a public computer lab at any open Long Beach Public Library location. For more information related to the demographic data of selected participants visit the dashboard link.
  

The City of Long Beach debuted its Micro-Transit Shuttle program in the Alamitos Bay-Belmont Shore neighborhoods. This free micro-transit shuttle service, which will operate Thursdays through Sundays, is intended to support mobility programs for economic recovery, promote non-automotive transportation modes for trips under three miles and alleviate parking impacts by connecting to nearby underutilized parking lots.

• Micro- Transit Shuttle Program: Beginning Oct. 27, interested riders can access shuttle service in the Alamitos Bay-Belmont Shore neighborhoods by downloading the Ride Circuit mobile app, available from any app store, or by visiting ridecircuit.com/ride for more information.
The hours of operation will be:
• Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m.
• Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.
• Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.
• Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

• Digital Inclusion Resources Hotline: The Hotline connects the Long Beach community to digital inclusion resources, services and language interpretation services. A team of digital inclusion navigators will be available via email and by phone on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to direct residents and business owners to information about free and low-cost internet services, computing devices, digital literacy training, and more. One-on-one assistance and language interpretation services will be available for callers in English and Spanish through the digital inclusion navigators, with language interpretation services in Khmer and Tagalog available upon request. Hotline resources are available by calling 562.570.7000 or by emailing digitalinclusion@longbeach.gov. 

The Long Beach Emergency Rental Assistance Program (LB-ERAP) is designed to assist landlords and income-eligible tenants (renters) who have experienced financial loss or hardship due to COVID-19 through rental assistance. The program is established to provide assistance exclusively to landlords and tenants in Long Beach and is separate from the State’s rental assistance program. Do not apply to the State program if the unit that you are seeking assistance for is located in Long Beach.

LB-ERAP will help income-eligible tenants pay rent and utilities, both for past due bills and future payments. The program will prioritize assisting lower-income tenants who have been unemployed for 90 days or more and who are at risk of housing instability.

Applications for this program are currently closed but City staff is seeking funding to re-start the program.

The City has acquired PPE to distribute to qualifying facilities and health care workers. Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and other facilities with regular PPE acquisition routes are encouraged to continue pursuing normal means of procurement. Qualifying facilities (as determined by the distribution priority list created by Los Angeles County) and health care workers engaging in direct patient care who are having difficulty securing PPE may make a request by completing this form.

Infant care supplies, including diapers, formula, baby wipes and more are being made available at weekly distributions to support families that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All Long Beach residents with young children, as well as Long Beach-based childcare and education providers, are eligible to receive supplies. Distributions for families are scheduled each Friday and are expected to continue into the first few months of 2021. For more information, residents can contact the City’s Resource Line at 562.570.INFO (4636), option 5.

• Building and Supporting Youth Social Capital Opportunities: The City of Long Beach has allocated funding specifically for youth development services focused on providing life coaching opportunities and oncrease youth resiliency and build youth's social capital through project-based work, experience opportunities, academic enrichment leadership programming, and/or service linkages between academic and occupational learning opportunities. 
• Youth Academic Programming: The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) is expanding its programming for teens at several branch locations. The summer and after-school programs will add a variety of enrichment activities for youth ages 12 and older with a strong focus on wellbeing, creativity, STEAM learning and collaborative interaction.  For more information about Long Beach Public Library teen programming and other activities for youth, visit lbpl.org or call 562.570.7500.   
• My Hood My City: The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has launched the program My Hood, My City to engage youth through civics education and leadership development. The program, led by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Youth Development in partnership with the Youth Leadership Institute, provides youth-led storytelling through neighborhood tours that raise awareness, pride and knowledge regarding the cultural and structural makeup of neighborhoods in north, west and central Long Beach.Application instructions and eligibility requirements are available through the Youth Leadership Institute’s My Hood, My City webpage.  Questions may be directed to mbedolla@yli.org or comar@yli.org. 
• Virtual Recreation Program: Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer a variety of popular, free recreation programs for families, teens and older adults beginning June 20. Residents can call or visit their neighborhood park for schedules and to register for activities.For more information about the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine programs and services, visit www.longbeach.gov/park.
• Teen Academy Program: Beginning Sept. 19, 2022, the City of Long Beach will offer a nine-month Teen Academy for 100 teens ages 13 to 18. The Teen Academy program, offered through the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), is designed to provide teens with experiences, activities and resources that support their wellness and future success.The Teen Academy will run September 2022 through June 2023, weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m., at PRM’s six teen centers.  For more information about teen center programming is available on the PRM Youth and Teen Center Programs webpage.   
   
  

The City is continuing to ensure that older adults have the support services and tools needed to maintain their health and well-being during the pandemic by offering a number of programs and services, including a food distribution program, conducting community outreach and education, and providing programming and services to reduce social isolation or loneliness and more. Residents can contact the City’s Resource Line at 562.570.INFO (4636), option 5, to be connected to these resources.

• Food and Meal Delivery Program: The City is partnering with local organizations to offer food and meal delivery aid for older adults and individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are isolating in their homes. Individuals 60 years of age and over, those who have tested positive for COVID-19, and those with specific underlying health conditions are eligible for participation in this program.
• Healthy Aging Center Messaging Service: Through this messaging service, people can receive periodic updates on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic including resources, services and information specifically for older adults.
• Senior Links Case Management: Staffing has been expanded to provide intensive case management and referral services through the Long Beach Healthy Aging Center. As part of this expansion, telehealth services are being offered and a device lending program is in development to reduce barriers for connecting to care virtually. Anyone 55 or older living in Long Beach, who needs help to continue living safely and independently in their home, is encouraged to seek care.
• Older Adults Health and Wellness Programming: The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM), in partnership with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) LifeFit Center @ The Beach, is launching a new exercise class program to provide evidence-based physical activity programming for older adults. The exercise class program supports the City’s Age-Friendly Initiative and emphasizes helping seniors maintain their independence and aging well at home. The program, funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act to support older adults impacted during the pandemic, will be held Thursdays at the McBride Park Senior Center and Tuesdays at the Chavez Park Senior Center from 11 to11:50 a.m. starting July 19 and July 21, respectively. Pre-registration is not required, and classes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis until capacity is reached. Additional information about the CSULB LifeFit Center is available on its website. More details regarding the City’s Age Friendly Initiative are available here.

• Licensed behavioral health clinicians are available to provide culturally-affirming mental health and substance abuse counseling services to uninsured or underinsured Black residents during the pandemic. Other initiatives to support Black health are addressed in separate programs and include a Mental Health provider program and a Black Health Collaborative in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach.
• Those interested in receiving mental health services can contact the City’s Resource Line at 562.570.INFO (4636), option 5.

The City is continuing to ensure that youth have the support services and tools needed to maintain their health and well-being during the pandemic by offering a number of recreational activities. 

• Virtual Recreation Program: The City is now offering free Virtual Recreation Programs for youth ages 5 to 12. The virtual programs feature enriching, fun activities such as arts and crafts, fitness, dance, cooking, cultural celebrations, and more. Families can access these videos anytime, anywhere by visiting the Parks, Recreation, and Marine YouTube channel.
• Mobile Recess Program: The free Mobile Recess Program will continue to be offered for a new series beginning March 1 through June 17, Monday through Friday, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Parks staff will drive trucks loaded with supplies and equipment to designated neighborhood streets and provide recreational activities for youth ages 5 through 14 (Grades K-8). Streets are blocked off for safety and kids participate in physical fitness and arts and crafts activities. Learn more and register here.  March 1, 2022- June 17, 2022 - Closed
• Community Learning Hubs Program: Free Community Learning Hubs provide a safe space for kindergarten through eighth grade students enrolled in Independent Study through Long Beach Unified School District with high-speed internet for students to complete distance learning assignments during the school day and the option to participate in safe and enriching after-school activities, including academic support, sports, fitness and more. Community Learning Hubs will take place weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Houghton Park, McBride Park, Orizaba Park and Veterans Park. Registration is required and will be available online at LBParks.org and in person beginning Dec. 22. January 3, 2022- April 15, 2022 - Closed

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