Mayor

Addressing Homelessness

Mayor Richardson has approached homelessness as both a humanitarian crisis and a public policy priority, advocating for urgent, coordinated response by all levels of government. With Long Beach and the broader region in recent years having seen dramatic increases in unsheltered populations, his administration has led bold actions to expand interim housing, streamline services, and improve access to long-term support. His work reflects the belief that every resident deserves safe, stable housing and that ending homelessness requires both prevention and permanent solutions.

As part of this effort, Mayor Richardson has prioritized increasing shelter capacity citywide, ensuring more unhoused individuals and families have immediate access to safe places to stay while connecting to services. This expansion has played a critical role in reducing unsheltered homelessness and stabilizing the most vulnerable populations.

Emergency declaration on homelessness

On January 10, 2023, shortly after taking office, Mayor Richardson declared a state of emergency on homelessness to address the escalating crisis in Long Beach. The City Council unanimously approved the declaration, which enabled the city to fast-track services, expand shelter options, and pursue additional state and federal resources.

In response, Richardson launched a coordinated citywide strategy that included increasing interim housing, boosting access to health services, and accelerating affordable housing production. He also established the Homelessness Emergency Response Task Force to coordinate across agencies and stakeholders. By 2024, Long Beach reported its first year-over-year decrease in homelessness in nearly a decade, demonstrating early progress under Richardson’s leadership. The emergency order remained active into early 2024, with regular public updates on outcomes and investments.

Shelter Capacity Expansion Under Mayor Richardson

• 702 W. Anaheim – Year-round congregate and non-congregate shelter
• Atlantic Bridge Community (ABC) – Bridge housing with supportive services
• Luxury Inn Motel Conversion – Interim housing for families and individuals
• Youth Navigation Center & Shelter – Tailored support and shelter for unhoused youth