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Recommendation to adopt resolution declaring a shelter crisis pursuant to SB 850 (Chapter 48, Statutes of 2018 and Government Code § 8698.2); and suspending applicable provisions of local law, including those contained in the City's zoning ordinances and regulations. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Addressing the issue of homelessness is a leading priority for the City of Long Beach (City). Over the past year, the Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) has been at the forefront in homeless service coordination and community engagement including: providing services for 15,963 client contacts through the Multi-Service Center (MSC), outreaching to and engaging over 1,100 individuals experiencing homelessness on the streets, vaccinating over 560 individuals against Hepatitis A, lease up of 75 units of Veteran housing at the Villages at Cabrillo, and convening two summits to establish a strategic plan and work groups to carry out strategies to end homelessness in Long Beach. Despite local success in reducing homelessness, significant challenges remain. These include continued low vacancy rates, high housing costs and insufficient prevention and housing resources to quickly stabilize homelessness.
Funding for homeless services is limited, though the City has been fortunate to receive approximately $11.5 million in federal, local, and private funding each year. In Fiscal Year 2018 (FY 18), due to the passage of Measure H in Los Angeles County, this amount increased to $14.1 million.
· Since 1995, the City Council has approved an annual application for CoC competitive funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During FY 18, the City applied for and received a $7.64 million award. This funding is used by the City and our nonprofit partners to provide street outreach, coordinated entry and assessment, supportive services, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing. The City also received $786,233 in federal gran...
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