TITLE
Recommendation to direct City Manager, Long Beach Health and Human Services Department and Long Beach Police Department to report on the current state of homelessness in the City of Long Beach and report back to the City Council at a future meeting. The report should include:
• Any updates on the current number of individuals facing
homelessness.
• Information regarding requests from the Long Beach
Health and Human Services Department for additional
grant funding from Los Angeles County.
• Information regarding all grants received in FY 15-16
for homeless services.
• Total number of funds allocated by the City for mental
health services and programs.
• Total number of funds allocated by the City for substance
abuse prevention services and programs.
• Current status on homeless individuals with substance
abuse issues.
• Resources provided by the City for homeless children
and families.
DISCUSSION
Every two years, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the City of Long Beach Continuum of Care to conduct a citywide homeless count. The last homeless count in Long Beach was conducted by the Long Beach Health Department on January 29, 2015.
The data collected from reaching out to the homeless community gives the City good data on the number, characteristics, and service needs of individuals, families, and unaccompanied children experiencing homeless ness is a critical component of local homeless planning and program development. Accurate data helps the Long Beach CoC to understand changes in trends among homeless populations; adjust the types of programs and services available according to need and use resources as efficiently as possible; comply with reporting requirements; and measure community progress towards preventing and ending homelessness.
From the data collected, the Long Beach homeless population in 2015 is as follows:
Total number of homeless individuals: 2,345 Unshelte...
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