Long Beach City Council has unanimously authorized the city manager to apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to go toward homeless assistance in Long Beach.
“Since 1995, this city has applied and received annual funds through the HUD Continuum of Care program to support the multi-service center,” said Susan Price, the community health bureau manager for Long Beach HHS. “We have 1,100 formerly homeless folks in shelters and permanent housing.”
An exact amount of financial aid has not yet been determined, but HUD granted $6.9 million to the city’s health and human services department last year, which was spread out over 28 separate projects providing resources for the homeless. The department expects to receive between $5.5 and $8 million from next year’s grant.
Councilmembers voted to adopt the city budget for fiscal year 2015, which was determined at last week’s meeting. The $401 million budget will be enacted on October 1 of this year.
Extensive budget cuts to the park ranger program drew criticism from Bluff Park resident Ruth Lozano during the public comment period.
“I’ve been disappointed at the condition of public safety at our parks. Because of that, I have not returned to many of those parks. I simply do not feel safe taking my daughters there,” Lozano said, noting that multiple drug-related arrests had taken place at parks over the past year. “I urge the city council to increase the park ranger program by at least two rangers so our parks can be a better place.”
Councilwoman Suzie Price responded to Lozano’s plea sympathetically but pointed out the lack of funding available to install additional rangers.
“It really is a funding issue,” she said. “I think moving forward, we’re all going to be working with an eye toward finding funding for programs like that.”