An extended winter shelter, a new year-round shelter set to open soon and Project Room Key, a program to house the homeless in motels, have helped get vulnerable people off the streets, officials say.
A housing and resource center for homeless individuals in North Long Beach originally slated to open earlier this month was set back. The project is now on track to be operational in September.
The city did not report any new deaths on Thursday.
Earlier this month, Jerry was surprised with a new cart, clothing, supplies and money directed to accounts at the local restaurants he frequents.
Bellflower Mayor Sonny Santa Ines said the shelter was a compassionate, “win/win” solution to the city’s homelessness issue.
Jerry was born on Groundhog Day in 1945, raised in East Long Beach and graduated from Wilson High School in 1963.
The program starts on Feb. 11 and ends April 7 with a homeless services call taker handling non-emergency calls for service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m.
Residents this year were exasperated when a homeless encampment sprouted up and appeared to start stripping bikes for parts to sell.
In a first for Long Beach, the report sets a clear goal for the number of affordable homes that would be needed over the next five years and the estimated funding.
Authorities are trying to figure out how a homeless man ended up pinned underneath an SUV near Bixby Park Thursday, requiring firefighters to use a rescue airbag to lift the vehicle and extricate him.
