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Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Long Beach Continuum of Care Partners and all appropriate departments to study the feasibility of acquiring land and funds to support the expansion of the Health and Human Services Department’s Tiny Home Shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness, and report back within 60 days.
DISCUSSION
For many years, California has battled increasing rates of homelessness among its population. According to the City of Long Beach’s (City) last Point-In-Time Count, 2,034 individuals were experiencing homelessness in January of 2020, and 78 percent of those individuals were unsheltered. This figure represents a 24 percent rise in unsheltered homelessness from 2019, which was accompanied by a 27 percent decrease in utilization of emergency shelter and transitional housing. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the issues already plaguing our unhoused population, which we expect to see reflected in 2022’s Point-In-Time Count.
The recent rise in infections from the Omicron variant poses an even greater threat to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness as, per the CDC, this population may be at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 due to factors like untreated medical conditions or older age. Further, social distance guidelines have created less space inside the City’s available congregate shelters. Thus, the need for new, non-congregate temporary shelter has grown more urgent than ever before.
While non-congregate temporary shelter allows for adequate social distancing, several benefits have also been identified by residents and staff present. Research conducted by the University of Washington and King County Department of Community and Human Services found that non-congregate temporary shelter effectively reduces stress for all involved, generates more positive engagement between staff and those in need, improves hygiene, quality of sleep and mental health, and leads more often to permanent housing for individuals experiencing homelessness than congregate shelter.
Since April 2020, the City has operated numerous Project Roomkey sites, successfully providing non-congregate shelter to over 200 individuals who were at greater risk of COVID-19 infection. To make this possible, City staff coordinated with strategic partners to provide those in need of shelter with meals, medical support, COVID-19 screenings, linkage to employment opportunities, clothing, laundry access, and hygiene kits. Expanding upon this success, the Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) is now looking to create an additional 25-50 modular non-congregate units, or Tiny Home Shelters, on site at the Multi-Service Center. Expected outcomes include decreased barriers to case management and services, along with provision of temporary shelter before relocation to permanent housing.
Tiny Home Shelters are small, equally sized dwellings that provide basic amenities to the unhoused. They offer residents a bed, storage space, and privacy not found in congregate shelters. Several units can be built in a relatively small area, which allows space for on-site services to directly benefit the population in need. Financial support for new Tiny Home Shelters is expected to be included in the Governor’s 2022-2023 budget. In his January 2022 proposal, Governor Newsom included an additional $1.5 billion, administered through DHCS’ Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, meant for purchasing and installing tiny homes for transitional housing.
The Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) consists of public, non-profit, and private entities that plan, coordinate, and implement activities aimed at ending and preventing homelessness in the region. CoC affiliated organizations have a proven record of service for our City’s unhoused population, including providing critical support that made Project Homekey possible in Long Beach. As the City looks to expand the amount of non-congregate shelter available, utilization of the CoC network will be instrumental in identifying space, resources, and operators if future Tiny Home Shelters are built. A notable example that exemplifies the importance of strategic partnerships with local organizations can be found in Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles currently operates six Tiny Home Villages in conjunction with Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, offering 908 beds to individuals in need. Hope of the Valley, a faith-based non-profit, serves each village, offering meals, showers, case management, housing navigation, mental health support, job training, and work placement all on-site.
Further, Los Angeles has found a way to construct several dwellings in a small amount of space; for example, the Chandler Boulevard village contains 40 units, or 75 beds, on one half acre. Also, due to their small size and prefabricated models, Tiny Home Villages can be built relatively quickly compared to traditional shelters. Their largest community, The Arroyo Seco Tiny Home Village in Highland Park, provides 224 beds and was built in just over 4 months.
We would like to request the City Manager to, in collaboration with CoC Partners, investigate the feasibility of acquiring land to expand the Health Department’s Tiny Home Shelter initiative, and work to identify potential funding sources to support the operation of these expanded facilities, and report back to the City Council.
This matter has been reviewed by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on January 31, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests the City Manager to work with Long Beach Continuum of Care Partners and all appropriate departments to investigate the feasibility of acquiring land and funds to support the expansion of the Health Department’s Tiny Home Shelter initiative and report back within 60 days. The requested action to bring back a feasibility report is anticipated to have a moderate impact on staff hours beyond the budgeted scope of duties and is expected to have a moderate impact on existing City Council priorities. Actual implementation of any expansion of the Tiny Home Shelter initiative will have more financial impact and will be discussed in the feasibility report.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT