Seeing a homeless person, or worse, a family, outside shopping centers, parks or other public spaces can spur anything from compassion to apathy.
“Is it appropriate to call police?” Aly Sullivan, a longtime resident of the 8th District, asked at a recent panel discussion on homelessness. “Are they really homeless or are they just using the system to get money? When children are involved you get worried.”
This a common response, officials said at the Expo Arts Center Friday, where Councilman Al Austin hosted a resource fair and panel on homelessness.
There are currently about 1,800 individuals experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, 21 percent less people than in 2015. However the homeless are more spread out throughout the city, according to the city’s latest figures.
Money is also coming in to the city to help combat homelessness via the Measure H sales tax that passed countywide in 2017, but the community still seems left wondering what specifically they should to do help.
Elsa Ramos, coordinator for the city’s Multi-Service Center, said community members should distribute a city-developed pocket resource guide that lists the multiple social services available in the Long Beach area.
“We are in the business of giving people a hand up, not a handout,” Ramos said.
Long Beach Police Department Detective Chris Zamora acknowledged the tug at one’s heart some may experience when encountering people in such dire situations, but pointing individuals to the Multi-Service Center could help them treat multiple issues.
“There’s a lifetime behind him that he really needs to start addressing and that’s something the Multi-Service Center does,” Zamora told the audience.
The detective said handing out money sometimes leads the individual to continue abusing substances like alcohol or drugs.
All it takes is $10 to buy a dime bag of narcotics or $1.25 to purchase a tall beer can or small vodka bottle, said Zamora, who also criticized businesses who seem to target such crowds with these inexpensive alcoholic products.
“When I hear that someone has been living [in a motorhome] for over two years, on a law enforcement side, I want to make sure that everything is OK,” said Zamora, whose beat includes gangs, narcotics, human trafficking and most recently homelessness. “I’ve had different investigations where there’s been different human traffickers that have had a motorhome and have had different young ladies held in those motorhomes for an extended period of time.”
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When homeless individuals leave items such as clothes and furniture in the street, this is considered private property, Zamora said, which means law enforcement needs to properly alert individuals of the intended removal. Trash left on private property, like Union Pacific’s railroad tracks, also involves a multi-jurisdictional process, Ramos said.
Austin said to successfully address the homeless crisis, everyone has to work together. He recently met with local clergy and property owners to specifically discuss homelessness and possible short-term and long-term solutions.
“It can’t just be one entity, it’s not just the city’s or the county’s issue, it’s everybody’s issue,” Austin said. “Bringing all stakeholders together […] and educating them on our resources and the outreach efforts and how we can help people, think how better off we’ll all be.”
HOW TO HELP
The Multi-Service Center accepts monetary donations and items like toiletries and apparel. It also offers volunteer opportunities and tours of the facility. For more information click here.
The community can also call 9-1-1 or the police department’s non-emergency phone number, (562) 435-6711 to report anything suspicious.
If you are concerned about a possible child abuse incident call the county’s 24/7 hotline (800) 540-4000.
Editor’s note: This story contained an old link to the city’s pocket guide for homelessness, which had outdated information. The link has been updated to direct readers to the 2018 guide.