For the next two years, Long Beach will attempt to rehouse those living in the city’s largest and longest running homeless encampment: the Los Angeles Riverbed.
The City will use $11 million from California’s Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) program and another $6.4 million from its own funding and various other grants. The $17.4 million will go towards obtaining a shelter for rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing and street outreach.
The LA Riverbed spans 9.5 miles of LA County, and includes part of Long Beach. During the 2024 Point in Time homelessness count, the city found 246 people living along the riverbed. City staff estimated that roughly 330 people live in the riverbed throughout the year. Long Beach’s goal for this two-year program, expected to begin in the summer, is to shelter 270 people.
Homeless Services Bureau Manager Paul Duncan said that according to city data, people on the riverbed are more likely than those in other encampments to be experiencing homelessness for a year or longer. He also said that from their street outreach results, they see a higher rate of reported disabilities, mental health needs and substance abuse from people in the riverbed…