Welcome to the next edition of the Homeless Services Newsletter! This is a monthly publication for the Homeless Services Bureau of the Long Beach Health Department to share information, resources, highlights, and news related to our community-wide efforts in addressing homelessness in Long Beach! | |
2022 Homeless Point in Time Count Results | |
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The 2022 Homeless Point in Time Count findings were released earlier this month. The Count was the first conducted in two years due to the pandemic. They revealed that Long Beach identified 3,296 people experiencing homelessness on February 24, 2022. While many remain unsheltered, more people than ever are living in emergency shelters or interim housing, a testament to the City's commitment to ending street homelessness and providing supportive services that will help people get back on their feet.
Those living in encampments or on the street increased by 22%, while those living in a vehicle were up by 380%. The number of people experiencing homelessness who are now living in interim housing has increased by 123% (those living in interim housing are still defined as homeless). 78% of people lived in Long Beach and Los Angeles County before becoming homeless, and more than 90% became homeless in California.
Addressing the issue of homelessness is a leading priority for the City. The City continues to be innovative in its approach to bringing additional services and housing to our unhoused residents even after the COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts for our city, particularly on the service systems designed for people experiencing homelessness.
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Newly Announced Federal Funding for Unsheltered Homelessness and
Homeless Encampments
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The City of Long Beach will apply for the first-of-its-kind Special NOFO to support unsheltered homelessness and homeless encampments for up to $5,193,648. As our most recent Point in Time numbers show, there has been an increase in unsheltered homeless who can often face greater health challenges, including experiences of trauma and violence to these individuals.
The funding looks to assist communities in developing an action plan that will link people experiencing homelessness and living in encampments with permanent housing opportunities, further pushing forward the belief of the Housing First approach. HUD will award funding to communities that can implement coordinated approaches -- grounded in Housing First and public health principles -- to reduce the prevalence of unsheltered homelessness and improve services, health outcomes, and housing stability among highly vulnerable individuals' families.
The Special NOFO will be a competitive process, and the Long Beach Continuum of Care will need to demonstrate a comprehensive community approach to reduce homelessness. Funding is available for Permanent Housing, street outreach efforts and other supportive services, and HMIS.
The Homeless Services Bureau will hold input sessions for the following work groups as part of the application process.
- Healthcare workers (healthcare/mental health providers) Work Group
- County Partners Work Group
- Housing and Development Work Group ( Landlords)
- Lived Experience Work Group (in person at the MSC)
- July 27, 2022 at 9:00 am -11:00 am
- August 10, 2022 at 1:30-3:30pm
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Community Input Work Group ( zoom link )
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August 2, 2022 5 -6:30pm
If you would like to participate, please email homelessservicesadmin@longbeach.gov to be placed on the mailing list when dates are set.
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Long Beach Health Department
Monthly Column on Homelessness
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The Long Beach Health Department has partnered up with the Press-Telegram to publish a monthly Op-ed on the statewide city crisis of the forefront issue of homelessness.
This month's piece is titled, "We can do more to end crisis — but need everyone’s help."
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60 people entered an emergency shelter
236 people were contacted by Street Outreach
99 locations throughout the city visited by Street Outreach
25 people on the street were contacted through the Tidelands and Weekend Outreach
112 requests for Outreach
486 people accessed the Multi-Service Center for the first time
3319 total visits to the Multi-Service Center this month
120 people stayed in Project Homekey (on average)
21 people stayed at the Winter/Cold Weather Shelter (closed on 6/30)
94 households stabilized in a motel
10 Safe Parking Program Participants (on average)
*Data reported in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for the month of June 2022
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Ligia Flores
Health Educator II
Ligia Flores is the new Health Educator ll. She recently graduated from Cal State Long Beach, earning a bachelor's degree in health science. There she worked helping students secure badging and stay informed with school resources.
She will be the newest outreach worker at Billy Jean King library. Where she will intake and inform people in need of services of resources available in the City of Long Beach and the Multiservice Center.
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Laura Paniagua
Health Educator II (Library Outreach)
Laura, a Los Angeles native, moved to New York, earning a Bachelor of Science in Media and Communications from New York University. She has worked in various marketing, advertising, and communications roles before finding her passion for public service. She returned home and began working at a nonprofit that provided emergency services to underserved patients and their families at LAC+USC Medical Center. Now she is looking to build a career continuing her passion for helping others with the Homeless Services Bureau as a Health Educator II for the City of Long Beach.
She likes baking cookies from scratch, concerts, and hitting thrift stores around Southern California during her off time. She loves food and enjoys giving and receiving restaurant recommendations!
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Teresa Stewart
Health Educator II (Library Outreach)
In July, Teresa Stewart joined the Homeless Services Bureau as a Health Educator II (Library Outreach) worker. Her role is to provide outreach and support services to those experiencing homelessness in the surrounding community.
Before joining the Outreach team, she worked as an Intensive Case Manager at Mental Health America of Los Angeles. She has a long history of working in outreach and the City of Long Beach. She has worked for Project Achieve Shelter (Catholic Charities) in Long Beach as a Resident Coordinator and with Urban Community Outreach as a Street Outreach Worker.
Teresa loves public service and helping her friends and all out in need. She looks forward to working at the Long Beach Libraries and giving back to the community.
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Andrew Hyvonen
LBRA Administrative Analyst
Andrew Hyvonen is our Long Beach Recovery Act LBRA Administrative Analyst. His role is to manage the administration of programs and comprehensive supportive services that promote progress toward permanent housing and self-sufficiency by prioritizing the needs of those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, like our homeless population.
He has worked with homeless and mental health services for 16 years. For 11 years, Andrew was a Case Manager and Program Manager at Mental Health of America, Los Angeles. For the last five years, he was the Associate Director of Family Services for PATH, overseeing and supporting various programs for homeless families in Metro LA, SPA 8, and Long Beach. Working in direct services and program management has been incredibly rewarding, and now Andrew looks to use his experience to support the administration side of public service.
Andrew received his BA from UC Irvine in Psychology and Social Behavior and his MBA from Cal State Long Beach. During his free time, he enjoys spending it with his wife and three kids, riding his bike, or trying to cook.
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Multi-Service Center
The Multi-Service Center (MSC) provides the following services to people and families experiencing homelessness:
- Outreach Services
- Intake and assessment services
- Case Management
- Referrals to shelters and other social service programs
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City of Long Beach Online Resource Directory
The online resource and referral platform, powered by Unite Us, helps residents connect to City and community programs.
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CSH Supportive Housing Training Center
Through the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), the Supportive Housing Training Center offers practical, interactive training solutions that empower people to learn about, build, & provide high-quality supportive housing in their community. There are several free, on-demand courses that focus on a variety of supportive-housing-related topics.
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Rapid Rehousing Roundtable Discussion Series
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is hosting a series of roundtable discussions on best practices in Rapid Re-Housing. These facilitated dialogues will allow providers to learn from experts and peers and submit questions on each discussion topic.
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New Tool to Find Federal Non-Emergency Health and Social Service Programs
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness launched a new tool to help state and local leaders identify and access federal non-emergency health and social programs so they can use multiple streams of funding for holistic supportive services that meet the short- and long-term needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
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New Voting Guides for People Experiencing Homelessness
To help more Americans exercise their right to vote, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) created step-by-step voting guides for homeless providers and for people experiencing homelessness.
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CoC and ESG Financial Management Virtual Binder
The new Continuum of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Financial Management Virtual Binder is now available on the HUD Exchange. This binder provides a comprehensive overview of HUD's financial management guidance for the CoC and ESG program. Recipient and subrecipient staff are encouraged to review this binder to ensure that appropriate internal structures and policies are in place to manage federal funds.
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Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
Community members play an important role in the solution to ending homelessness in Long Beach. Volunteers help others while learning more about what is being done to address homelessness in Long Beach. Learn how you can contribute your talents, energy and expertise to support local efforts in ending homelessness.
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Long Beach CoC Board Meeting
The Long Beach CoC Board is comprised of elected members with the oversight to steward local planning, coordination, and implementation activities related to ending and preventing homelessness in the region. The CoC Board meets twice quarterly on the second Tuesday in January, March, April, June, July, September, October and December. All meetings are open to the public.
Long Beach CoC General Membership Meeting
The Long Beach CoC General Membership is a broad-based group of local stakeholders who share a common interest in ending and preventing homelessness in the City. The CoC General Membership meets quarterly on the second Tuesday in March, June, September, and December. Meetings are open to the public.
Long Beach CoC Standing Subcommittees
In addition to the meetings above, the Long Beach CoC has three standing subcommittees:
- Policies and Standards
- Coordinated Entry System
- Quality, Data, and Performance.
Subcommittee membership is open to all general members of the CoC. Members are defined as anyone who has attended at least one CoC General Meeting.
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Homeless Services Advisory Committee
The Homeless Services Advisory Committee serves at the discretion of the City Council and the Mayor to make recommendations on policies, programs, and activities related to homeless assistance resources. The HSAC meets on the first Wednesday of each month unless otherwise noted. All meetings are open to the public.
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