Winter Shelter To Open For Unhoused People In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach's emergency winter shelter for people experiencing homelessness will open on Jan. 1, city officials announced.

The city's emergency shelter will transition to winter shelter operations, expanding nightly occupancy from 85 to up to 125 people. The shelter is located at 702 W. Anaheim St. and will be open through March 31, 2025.

“As temperatures start to dip, we are preparing to take action to provide our neighbors experiencing homelessness with extra care and resources,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Opening additional shelter beds is about more than comfort–it can save lives.”

The shelter will be open 24 hours per day and will provide people with three meals per day, onsite showers and restrooms and an outdoor area for service animals and pets. The shelter operates in partnership with nonprofit First to Serve Outreach Ministries and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Shelter participants will also have access to a variety of services, including housing-focused case management, screening for housing programs, referrals to year-round shelter programs, assistance obtaining identification and documents and connections to behavioral health resources.

In order to access the Winter Shelter, people will first need a referral from the Multi-Service Center or the Mobile Access Center.

“The winter shelter is a key component in our strategy to support people experiencing homelessness,” said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “By expanding operations, we are not only providing our neighbors who are unhoused a safe and warm place during the winter
months but also access to critical resources and services that can help them on their journey toward stable housing.”

In addition to the 390 shelter beds available year-round in Long Beach and 40 winter shelter beds, the city will use the Multi-Service Center to serve as an emergency overnight shelter site during extreme weather conditions.

The inclement weather center may be activated when:

• Forecasted temperatures hit 45 degrees or lower
• A flood watch or warning has been issued by the National Weather Service
• Forecasts predict rain that exceeds light showers