Rendering of the completed North Health Facility in North Long Beach. Photo Courtesy Long Beach Public Works.

A community health center with a public clinic in North Long Beach is currently being renovated and is expected to open to the public in June or July.

The North Health Facility located at Houghton Park will offer youth violence prevention and development programs alongside medical services to residents in North Long Beach, according to Ana Lopez, community impact division officer for the Long Beach Health and Human Services Department.

The facility will also feature a public health clinic with two exam rooms with a focus around sexually transmitted disease testing. In 2019, Long Beach health officials reported a dramatic increase in rates of STDs. North Long Beach was identified, among other communities, as having one of the highest STD counts.

The center also features four drop-in meeting rooms for program leaders to meet with local residents. Lopez explained that the spaces could be used to host representatives from CalFresh, health insurance enrollment or other supportive services to allow them to set up appointments and meet with residents.

The North Health Facility building in Houghton Park undergoes renovation construction on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. Photo by Sebastian Echeverry.

“The North Facility is designed as a drop-in site for community members to feel safe and welcomed right within their community,” Lopez said. “Ideally, we will coordinate closely with [Jordan High School] and [Parks, Recreation and Marine Department] on programming and engagement efforts.”

The cost of the renovation project was $5 million, with about $890,000 coming from Measure A sales tax funds. The renovations include a new roof to improve energy efficiency, a HVAC system, lighting, windows and doors.

The facility is located across the parkiechong lot from the newly-renovated Houghton Park Community Center, which houses recreational programs for the seniors and youth of the North Long Beach community.

“Working through the pandemic is challenging to say the least, and we also want to provide the community with a great facility, which meant having to contract services for abatement, new HVAC, new electrical, setting up servers for wifi and working with various entities to design the space,” Lopez said. “I think the community deserves a space where they can drop in for services, feel safe and welcomed and know that it’s a beautiful space for them to share, learn and grow.”