60 Warming Beds Opened For Unhoused People In Long Beach Due To Storms

LONG BEACH, CA — As Long Beach experiences an onslaught of rain and significantly colder temperatures than normal, city officials announced they set up 60 warming beds at the Multi-Service Center for people experiencing homelessness.

The beds opened on Feb. 26 and city officials said they will remain until at least Sunday, March 5 starting at 6 p.m. each day on a first-come, first-served basis. The beds will be removed every morning ahead of MSC operations at 8 a.m. officials said.

"Outreach workers began canvassing people to let them know warming beds would be available. Outreach will continue throughout the week," City of Long Beach officials said in a statement.

Temperatures in Long Beach are expected to go as low as 40 degrees on Wednesday and rain storms are expected to persist through the week, these weather conditions create a heightened risk of illness or death among unsheltered people. According to the city, a person who was experiencing homelessness died on Friday due to exposure.

In addition to providing the warming beds, the Homeless Services Bureau of the Health and Human Services Department is seeking community groups that are willing to assist with providing meals at the MSC. On Sunday meals were provided by the staff at the MSC.

Those who are interested in helping were urged to call 562-570-4500 or email [email protected].

"There is a persistent struggle to meet the sheltering needs of Long Beach’s residents who are unhoused, especially during this treacherous winter," officials said.

According to the city, there are about 1,300 city-provided beds across Long Beach for homeless people. Officials said an 81-bed emergency shelter at Community Hospital has been consistently full since its opening on Dec. 19, 2022. Officials said an additional 120 beds are expected to be added within the next year.

Recently, the city announced they would build and install 35 tiny homes at the MSC to serve as temporary housing for unsheltered people, but a timeline for their completion was not provided.

City officials will be responsible for annual operating and programming costs estimated to cost $930,818 per year. These costs include utilities, maintenance, food and staffing. Occupants will be provided three meals a day, according to city officials.

Long Beach declared a local emergency on homelessness on Jan. 10 in order to increase the city's ability to quickly provide needed services, speed up large-scale projects like the tiny homes and motel conversions, hire and recruit qualified candidates for critical roles and work through zoning requirements that exclude certain uses of existing properties.

For more information on what the city has done and plans to do regarding the homelessness emergency, visit the city's webpage.