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Public commenter alleges 21 wrongful evictions at Homekey site managed by First to Serve; calls for investigation
Summary
A public commenter told the council that First to Serve Incorporated, operator of a Homekey Best Western project, has wrongfully evicted 21 people since April and urged the council to investigate and provide interim housing and vouchers.
During general public comment at the Dec. 17 Long Beach City Council meeting, a speaker identified as Carl said he had evidence that First to Serve Incorporated had wrongfully evicted 21 residents from the Best Western Homekey project and asked the council to investigate and provide interim housing assistance.
What the speaker said: the speaker told the council that in March the city approved $3,700,000 for First to Serve to operate the Homekey Best Western project and alleged that since First to Serve took over operations in April it has wrongfully evicted 21 people. The commenter said the contractors eviction procedures were "designed to humiliate and isolate those evicted" and that security had been instructed to prevent evicted residents from accessing the shelter. He also said the contractor was using evictions to mark residents as "housed" in order to show rapid placements rather than pursuing rehousing.
The commenter asked the council to: - Open an investigation into the allegations. - In the interim, provide housing vouchers or hotel vouchers and financial aid to those evicted who lack income.
Contract language cited in public comment: the speaker summarized contract requirements saying the agreement limited termination of a resident to circumstances where a client threatened the safety of staff, themselves or other residents, and that the contractor must maintain an entry/reentry policy and provide copies to residents.
Council response and outcome: the transcript records the public comment but shows no council action taken during the meeting to open an investigation or to commit interim vouchers. The speaker asked for a "swift process" and for education of potential operators on contract requirements; no staff report or city response is recorded in the transcript on this item.
Why it matters: items involving Homekey operations and contracts affect the administration of shelter and rehousing programs and may trigger contract compliance reviews, tenant protections and potential interim assistance for affected people if allegations are substantiated.
Clarifying notes: the details above reflect the commenters statements to the council as recorded in the meeting transcript. The council did not announce an investigation or formal follow-up on the record during the Dec. 17 meeting; the council or city staff may issue further responses outside the meeting record.
