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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 mor...
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