TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with the appropriate City departments and City Attorney's Office to report back at the next available City Council meeting on gaps in prevention, services and housing for individuals and families who are precariously housed or experiencing homelessness, as well as the costs, and opportunities to address these needs. The report should include a recommended funding strategy and implementation timeline for a dedicated local revenue source to address for housing opportunities for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as early and late prevention strategies and services for those newly homeless and those experiencing chronic homelessness.
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach has experienced a 41 percent decline in the bi-annual point-intime count in the past six years. This is a one-day picture into who is in our City's shelters and on the streets. The decline is due to the incredible work of our Homeless Services team, the interdepartmental coordination with the Departments of Health and Human Services, Police, Fire, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Public Works, and our City Attorney.
The Health and Human Services Department brings in over $12 million annually in services to support homeless prevention efforts and supporting those who are homeless to achieve housing. However, we also know that between 3,000 to 4,000 peoplechildren, older adults, transitional aged youth, students, families, men and women-will become homeless each year in Long Beach. For some it will be temporary and for others, long-term. Currently, the City of Long Beach does not have the resources to build the number of housing units necessary for those needing low-income and homeless housing, nor does it have sufficient resources for prevention and services. The Continuum of Care funding through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development provides rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and permanent supportive hou...
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