Nearly one year after voters approved sales tax Measure A, Long Beach received its first chunk of funding towards homelessness prevention Tuesday night.
The County previously relied on Measure H funds for its homelessness services: a voter-approved 25-cent sales tax approved in 2017 that was set to end in 2027. In November 2024, voters chose to double this sales tax in an attempt to further combat the regional homelessness crisis.
Long Beach’s most recent Point in Time Count revealed a 6.5% increase in people experiencing homelessness in the city. More than half of the people interviewed said they became homeless due to eviction, financial hardship or unemployment.
“We know that homelessness and the housing crisis are regional challenges. No city alone can solve the challenge,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Regional challenges need regional solutions.”…