Volunteer, Donate And Get Involved
Lived Experience Advisory Board | Mayor’s Fund For Homeless Action | Physical Donations | Donation Request Form for Local Organizations | Volunteer/Pro Bono Services | Homeless Services Advisory Committee | Continuum of Care | Homeless CountThere are several ways to help. Donate dollars or goods, volunteer your time and participate in meetings. Here’s how you can get involved.
Advisory Board with Lived Experience (ABLE)
The City of Long Beach put a call to action to recruit current or previously unhoused residents interested in participating in the new Advisory Board with Lived Experience (formerly Lived Experience Advisory Board). The ABLE meetings are held monthly on the third Wednesday from 10am-12pm.Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024-Cancelled
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: TBD
Address: TBD
For questions or additional information, please contact the City's Homeless Services staff at HomelessServicesAdmin@longbeach.gov.
MAYOR’S FUND FOR HOMELESS ACTION
The City of Long Beach (City) works in collaboration with non-profit and other community partners to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness in our area. Through the City's model Continuum of Care system, sites such as the Multi-Service Center have been able to work together to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness to achieve self-sufficiency.However, there is still much work to be done. The Mayor’s Fund for Homelessness (Mayor’s Fund) Action provides small grants to organizations in Long Beach that address significant service delivery needs that are not covered by existing funding and are not considered emergency needs. The Mayor's Fund looks to fund homeless programming that is either a new innovative pilot program with clear, measurable goals or a developed program that is looking for an enhancement that could use supplemental funding in a less restrictive manner.
Donations to this fund could support a variety of critical needs, including:
- Relocation Assistance
- Shelter Services
- Transportation Assistance
- Critical infrastructure improvements and repairs
- Replacement of mission critical equipment
- Move-in Assistance
- Immediate shelter needs
Apply Now
Make A Donation
Your tax-deductible donation to the Mayor’s Fund will make a real difference and give individuals and families in our community the support they need to break the cycle of homelessness. Donations can be made by credit card or check, and funds are administered by the Long Beach Community Foundation.
+See the list of past Mayor’s Fund Recipients
Donate Now
PHYSICAL DONATIONS
As part of the City of Long Beach’s mission to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, the City is collecting a variety of essential physical items to provide to residents who are unhoused. Community members are encouraged to join the effort by donating items in need.- Create a hygiene kit or house-warming gift kit from the Multi-Service Center Amazon Wish List.
- Fill a backpack with needed items such as hand warmers, flashlights, battery packs, batteries (usually D batteries), emergency blankets and charging cables which can all be packaged in a backpack.
- Donate pet care kits with things like pet treats, collars, leashes, pet toys or collapsible pet bowls.
- Donate gift cards to places like Target, Walmart, McDonalds, Taco Bell, In 'N' Out, Dunkin Donuts and grocery stores. (Only accepted at the Multi-Service Center).
- Drop off S, M, L, XL or XXL sweatpants, shirts, socks and men’s and women’s underwear, beanies, scarves, caps, hoodies, towels or blankets. Gently used items are appreciated, too.
- Young people can make a welcome home kit with some of the suggested items above and include a special hand-written motivating message to go in the kit. It’s a meaningful way to get youth involved in helping the community.
- Donate food items like canned food, bottled drinks like juices or water, snacks such as granola bars or power bars, instant oatmeal and instant soup.
- All Long Beach Public Library locations during regular operating hours (all Library locations are regularly closed Sundays and Mondays)
- Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
DONATION REQUEST FORM FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Long Beach-based organizations that support people experiencing homelessness may request to receive donated items, including everyday essentials such as clothing, blankets and toiletries, to further support their organization’s mission. Organizations interested in receiving donations to support their cause can submit a donation request form. While the City will make every effort to accommodate all donation requests, donations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.VOLUNTEER OR PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES
If you are interested in providing an ongoing Pro Bono service to benefit people currently experiencing homelessness, please reach out to the Homeless Services Bureau at HomelessServices@longbeach.gov and staff will discuss how you may be able to provide your services.HOMELESS SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE INFORMATION AND MEETING SCHEDULE
The City of Long Beach established the Homeless Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) in 1988. The HSAC serves at the discretion of the City Council and Mayor to make recommendations on policies, programs and activities related to homeless assistance resources. The HSAC is governed and meets according to the articles set forth in the regulations the City of Long Beach has established via Ordinance, Resolution C-24600. The HSAC also makes recommendations to the Long Beach City Council. The HSAC is comprised of 11 Long Beach residents, one appointed from each of the City Council districts and two selected at-large by the Mayor’s Office.The HSAC consider recommendations from the Long Beach CoC Board and General Membership on matters related to homeless services-related policy, programs, and funding. The HSAC develop recommendations on matters related to homeless services-related policy, programs, and funding. The HSAC receive public comment at its regular monthly meeting on matters related to homelessness within the City of Long Beach. The HSAC submit an annual report to the City Council, containing a summary of highlights and recommendations for the next year.
Homeless Services Advisory Committee meeting schedule is each first Wednesday of the month (unless otherwise noted):
Date: Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Time: 3:30 PM
Location: Billie Jean King Library
Address: 200 W Broadway, Long Beach, Ca 90802
Meeting Packet
Policy Subcommittee
The Policy Subcommittee meets monthly, every second Monday of the month (unless otherwise noted):
Date: Monday, September 09, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Sea Spray Gardens
Address: 333 W Broadway Suite 206
Mayor’s Fund Subcommittee
The Mayor’s Fund Subcommittee meets monthly, every Monday a week prior to the HSAC meeting (unless otherwise noted):
Date: Monday, September 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Sea Spray Gardens
Address: 333 W. Broadway Suite 206
For more information, please email HomelessServicesAdmin@longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-4182.
CONTINUUM OF CARE INFORMATION AND MEETING SCHEDULE
In accordance with the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH Act), enacted into law on May 20, 2009, representatives from organizations that serve homeless and formerly homeless individuals within the City of Long Beach have established a Continuum of Care to carry out planning, coordination, and implementation activities set out in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 24 Section 578 (24 CFR 578) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) is comprised of five entities: 1) the Long Beach CoC General Membership, 2) the Long Beach CoC Board, 3) the Homeless Services Advisory Committee (HSAC), 4) the City of Long Beach City Council, 5) the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Homeless Services Bureau.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Long Beach CoC Board Meeting
The Long Beach CoC Board is comprised of elected members with oversight to steward local planning, coordination, and implementation activities related to ending and preventing homelessness in the region. The CoC Board meets twice quarterly on the second Tuesday in January, March, April, June, July, September, October, and December (unless otherwise noted).
Date: Tuesday, October 8th, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Billie Jean King Library
Address: 200 W Broadway, Long Beach, Ca 90802
Meeting Packet
Long Beach CoC General Membership Meeting
The Long Beach Continuum of Care (CoC) General Membership is a broad-based group of local stakeholders who share a common interest in ending and preventing homelessness in the city. The CoC General Membership meet quarterly on the third Tuesday in March, June, September and December (unless otherwise noted).
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Via Zoom
Zoom Meeting
For more information, please email HomelessServicesAdmin@longbeach.gov or call (562) 570-4555.
Policies and Standards Subcommittee Meeting
The Policies and Standards Subcommittee meets quarterly, ever first Thursday of the month at 12:00 noon via zoom
- Meetings are cancelled until further notice.
- By Web: Zoom Meeting Link
- Meeting ID: 994 7864 0247
- Passcode: 972249
- By Phone: +12133388477,,97717374537#
- Meeting Packet
- Recording Link 5.4.23
Coordinated Entry System Subcommittee Meeting
The Coordinated Entry System Subcommittee meets quarterly, ever first Thursday of the month at 1 pm via zoom.
- Meetings are cancelled until further notice.
- By Web: Zoom Meeting Link
- Meeting ID: 956 2987 2929
- Passcode: 446113
- By Phone: +12133388477,,97717374537#
- Meeting Packet
- Recording Link 5.4.23 Password: nQtbJyP5
Quality, Data, and Performance Subcommittee Meeting
The Quality, Data, and Performance Subcommittee meets quarterly, every second Tuesday of the month at 2 pm via zoom.
- Meetings are cancelled until further notice.
- By Web:Zoom Meeting Link
- Meeting ID: 924 6596 8394924 6596 8394
- Passcode: 622147
- By Phone: +12133388477,,97717374537#
- Meeting Packet
- Recording Link 5.9.23 Password: xGgrAhb6
Resources
Governance Charter and Bylaws
Board Members
Board Terms of Office
CoC Program Resources
Written Standards
Reallocation Policies and Procedures
HMIS Policies and Procedures
ANNUAL HOMELESS POINT IN TIME COUNT
Every winter, in January or February, typically about 250 volunteers count the number of people experiencing homelessness in our city. The Point in Time count is a communitywide effort that provides an opportunity for residents and local businesses to actively contribute and learn about people who are experiencing homelessness and gain an understanding of the resources available to address homelessness in Long Beach. The count is a nationwide count of people experiencing homelessness living within a given community on a single day. This count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the state of California in order to receive funding to address homelessness. The City of Long Beach’s Continuum of Care receives these grants and finds it is vital to better understand the trends, issues and demographics of our fellow community members experiencing homelessness.
By engaging fully in this annual count, we can provide better data to service providers, government entities and community members so we can continue to work together on developing effective and appropriate homeless interventions in the City of Long Beach. People can email HomelessCount@longbeach.gov for information on volunteering.
The results of the most recent count can be found at 2023 City of Long Beach Homeless Point in Time Count Report.
The City's press release regarding the results can be found at Long Beach Releases Results of the 2023 Homeless Point in Time Count.
More information about the annual count and volunteer opportunities can be found at Annual Homeless Count.
