By Grace Lawson
The city of Long Beach has officially begun clearing homeless encampments in the downtown area as the Supreme Court’s overturning of legal protections for unhoused people makes it possible to fine and arrest people sleeping in public places.
Based on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in late June, California and other western states were granted the right to begin clearing homeless encampments from public places.
According to a report from the Department of U.S. Housing and Urban Development, there are a little over 71,131 available beds in all of California for transitional or emergency housing needs, and a total of 3,716 in Long Beach. That total includes both transitional and permanent beds.
“Moving people is not a solution; what we’re trying to do is balance places that can be a priority focus area. There are people that are not happy in both directions,” Paul Duncan, homeless services bureau manager, said in an interview on Tuesday.
According to the annual Long Beach homeless count done in January, there were 3,376 unhoused people. This is a 2.1% decrease from the previous year, and also the first account of a decrease since 2017.
In a press release on Aug. 23, the city received around $5.3 million in state funding to begin clearing encampments and conducting outreach to the unhoused.
NBC Los Angeles reported that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened cities that don’t begin moving forward with clearing the encampments by withholding state funds.
The target areas include downtown Long Beach, where efforts will be focused on areas such as around Billie Jean King Main Library and Lincoln Park. Others listed were the metro platforms, Harvey Milk Promenade Park and parts of the downtown entertainment district.
Parks like Gumbiner Park in downtown Long Beach have already been cleared and fenced up by the city during a clearing initiative done on Aug. 19.
“Gumbiner was a restoration project, but that will not be the case at each of the locations. When we select a priority focus area, that initial initiative is intensive outreach,” Duncan said.
In a photo from a report done by KTLA 5, signs were placed in the park and surrounding areas 48 hours before the clearing to warn individuals. This was done to give unhoused people in the area a chance to find shelter at centers in the area offering beds, such as the Multi-Service Center, or non-profits like Long Beach Rescue Mission.
Despite the city’s attempts for outreach as they cleared encampments in the priority areas, residents had a very split reaction.
People are worried about long-term housing and accommodation for unhoused individuals who are being pushed into different areas of the city.
However, others are viewing it as a chance to reclaim public spaces to make available for safe public use, Duncan explained in the interview.
In a press release from the city of Long Beach from May of this year, the city addressed the leading causes for homelessness, including: unemployment, leading at 38%, family issues at 29%, eviction at 17%, mental health at 17%, disability at 13%, and substance use at 12%.
According to a different press release by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from August, as clearing continues, the city plans on building 60 congregate shelter units that will be available for unhoused individuals for up to one year.
The city also has plans to find rental assistance to hopefully lead to permanent housing for up to 125 unhoused individuals who had been living in these encampments.
On-campus resources for unhoused students include the Basic Needs Program and Lauren Chalmers ‘83 Beach Pantry, both located at the University Student Union. Off-campus are the Multi-Service Center and Long Beach Rescue Mission.
Non-government affiliated resources off-campus for unhoused individuals include Ashlee’s Homeless Fund, a nonprofit that helps unhoused individuals find emergency shelter, long-term support and traditional housing.
