Long Beach Receives $11 Million to Address Homelessness Along L.A. River, But Will It Be Enough?

Long Beach will receive $11 million from the State of California’s Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) program to address homelessness along a 9.5-mile stretch of the Los Angeles Riverbed, the city’s largest and longest-standing homeless encampment. While city officials say the funding is a critical step toward providing services and housing, concerns remain about whether the investment will lead to lasting change, especially given the city’s ongoing shortage of shelter beds and delays in housing projects.

This is the third time Long Beach has received ERF funding, a recognition of its efforts to move unsheltered individuals into stable housing. The city’s first ERF program saw some success, with 49% of participants securing permanent housing. The second round is ongoing, with 64 people currently in shelters and 10 housed. Despite these efforts, homelessness remains a persistent issue. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, those living along the riverbed have been homeless longer than others in the city, with 92% reporting being without shelter for a year or more. The encampment’s location also poses health and safety risks due to its proximity to freeways and the difficulty emergency responders face in reaching individuals.

Mayor Rex Richardson remains optimistic, saying the funding will help both those in need and the broader community by restoring the riverbed as a “cleaner, safer, and more accessible space for everyone.”  

“The L.A. Riverbed is an important thoroughfare for bicycle and pedestrian mobility, recreation, and an entryway to our Long Beach community. This funding allows us to continue our work connecting our neighbors experiencing unsheltered homelessness with the services and housing they need, while restoring the riverbed as a cleaner, safer, and more accessible space for everyone,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We are grateful to Governor Newsom, the State of California, and the County of Los Angeles for your incredible partnership and for providing the resources we need to continue to advance this essential work.”

However, many question whether this funding will be enough. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of available shelter beds. Long Beach currently has only around 530 shelter beds, but over a thousand people remain unhoused. This shortage means that even when encampments are cleared, many individuals have nowhere to go. Making matters worse, the planned opening of a renovated motel in North Long Beach, which was expected to provide additional shelter beds, has been delayed due to construction setbacks. The project was originally set to open months ago but remains unfinished, leaving fewer options for those in need.

The city plans to use the new funding to place individuals into non-congregate shelters where they will have separate living spaces rather than group-style housing while working toward permanent housing solutions. Officials say the first phase will involve outreach and engagement with people along the riverbed, followed by the launch of new shelter spaces and supportive services to transition individuals into permanent housing. Long Beach Health and Human Services Director Alison King welcomed the funding, calling it an opportunity to “continue our good work” in helping the city’s most vulnerable residents.

State officials have pointed to Long Beach as a model for clearing encampments through the ERF program, but critics argue that simply clearing encampments does not solve homelessness. Without sufficient shelter capacity or permanent housing options, people are often displaced rather than housed, continuing the cycle of encampments appearing in new areas. With shelter beds already in short supply and housing projects delayed, the key question remains: Will this $11 million investment finally lead to meaningful change, or is Long Beach once again spending money on a short-term fix for a long-term crisis?

Despite the city’s ongoing homelessness crisis and the urgent need for shelter, Long Beach was forced to return $5.6 million in state homeless assistance grants after failing to find suitable land for a planned tiny home village. City officials cited concerns over noise and air pollution at potential sites, ultimately deciding that no location met the necessary criteria. The setback frustrated advocates who argue that the city cannot afford to turn away funding while thousands remain unsheltered. With shelter space already limited and delays in other housing projects, the loss of these funds has only added to doubts about the city’s ability to effectively address homelessness.