Long Beach doubles down on housing and prevention plan, pledges rental support for seniors
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Summary
Mayor Rex Richardson touted approval of more than 5,000 housing units over three years, a youth shelter opening this spring, and a new Upstream LB prevention strategy that includes rental assistance of up to two years for seniors and $2 million for right-to-counsel eviction support.
Mayor Rex Richardson said Long Beach has approved more than 5,000 housing units over the last three years and completed 1,200 new homes in 2025 as the city shifts from managing homelessness to preventing it.
Richardson described Upstream LB, a prevention-focused program targeting seniors on fixed incomes, youth aging out of foster care and families one emergency away from housing loss. "Upstream LB is our plan to stop homelessness before it starts," he said, adding the city will offer rental assistance for seniors for up to two years and is investing $2,000,000 in right-to-counsel and settlement assistance to help tenants fight eviction.
The mayor said the city has increased its shelter capacity—city-provided shelter beds rose by 84% over three years—and opened the city's first permanent youth shelter and navigation center for people aged 18 to 24, which he said will welcome students this spring. He credited partnerships with Long Beach Rescue Mission, Lydia House and county partners for expanding outreach and temporary beds.
Richardson framed the strategy as prevention plus stabilization: expanding shelter and outreach while removing drivers that push families into homelessness. He also said Long Beach secured more than $16,000,000 annually through the LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency dedicated to prevention and stability work.
Next steps: Richardson said the city will continue implementing Upstream LB and monitoring outcomes, with additional program rollouts and partner coordination planned during the year.
