Long Beach council approves up to $150,000 from Los Angeles County for interjurisdictional homelessness outreach

The Long Beach City Council voted to execute necessary documents with the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office to accept and expend funding not to exceed $150,000 to continue an interjurisdictional collaborative program to assist unsheltered people residing in public right of ways.

The program, described by a Health Department representative at the meeting as a continuation of an existing initiative, provides funding for field-based services and staff who will engage unsheltered people throughout the city. “This is the interjurisdictional collaborative program that is a strategic initiative designed to enhance coordination and collaboration between various local government agencies, departments, and jurisdictions within Los Angeles County,” the Health Department representative said. The representative added the program “will assist unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness that are residing in public right of ways within the city of Long Beach.”

Councilmember Rick Soady asked whether the county funding is directed to particular services or entities; the Health Department representative replied the latter, saying the funding is used generally to support existing services and staffing that work with quality‑of‑life teams, outreach teams and first responders in the field. The representative said the city will continue to collaborate with the Los Angeles County CEO, the county homeless services bureau outreach staff, the city’s REACH team (restorative engagement to achieve collective health), the Long Beach Police Department quality‑of‑life and METRO sections, the Long Beach Fire Department and the Mobile Services Center (MSC).

No public commenters addressed the item, and the council approved the recommendation; the meeting audio records the motion carrying. The staff presentation characterized the action as a continuation of prior years’ work rather than a new program change or expansion.