The streets of Long Beach echo the unsettling increase in homelessness, with the latest Point-in-Time count indicating a bump up to 3,595 individuals without a place to call home, this figure, shared by the City of Long Beach during a recent roundtable, reflects a net increase of 219 people in comparison to last year's data.
Notably, the January 2025 Southern California wildfires played a sizable role in this escalation, driving approximately 76% of the overall surge, 167 of the surveyed stated outright displacement due to the devastating blazes, however, the city's officials are not taking the issue lying down; Mayor Rex Richardson lauded the progress made by the city in addressing chronic homelessness, which has seen a marked decrease despite the general uptick. "When we look at the City’s efforts to address homelessness apart from the tragic wildfires, we’ve seen improvements in areas where we have struggled in the past, such as a profound decrease in chronic homelessness," he told the participating local stakeholders.
Chronic homelessness showed a downturn with 1,678 people now falling into this category, but the face of homelessness is changing, according to the City's statistics, the average age has dipped to 46.8, indicating a worrying trend towards a younger demographic, and the newly homeless, those grappling with this reality for less than a year, inched up from 14.3% to 16% within the city's margins.
Long Beach hasn't been idle in the face of this challenge, the city has continued its remedial efforts, for example opening Homekey at 1725 – a facility carved out of a former motel that now provides 99 interim housing units and wrap-around services aimed at transitioning individuals to permanent housing, and more projects are on the horizon, such as a Youth Shelter and Navigation Center and the Homekey at 5950 development, both of which intend to offer refuge and support to those in precarious living situations, the City is also deploying grant funding to tackle encampments along the Los Angeles Riverbed to provide stable housing options.
Residents looking to lend a helping hand in these efforts can reach out via service reporting or by making tangible contributions through donation bins across the city, found at various community locations including the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, Long Beach Public Library branches and Scherer Park Community Center at specified times, the City also provides a comprehensive guide for connecting those in need with the right resources, ensuring a cohesive community response.
Understanding the comprehensive scale of homelessness in Long Beach is crucial, and for those seeking a deeper dive, the City of Long Beach's website and social media channels provide detailed reports and updates on the ongoing work to navigate this complex issue, signifying a transparency in their commitment to making strides toward "Everyone Home LB."
