City of Long Beach announces new homelessness findings showing progress in shelter access despite higher overall count

Long Beach, California – The City of Long Beach has released the results of its 2026 Homeless Point in Time Count, offering a detailed look at homelessness across the city while highlighting both ongoing challenges and areas where progress has been made.

The count, conducted during the early morning hours of January 22, 2026, identified 3,729 people experiencing homelessness, an increase of 134 people, or 3.7%, compared with the previous year. Although the total number increased, city officials noted that the annual rise was smaller than the increase recorded in 2025.

The report also pointed to several encouraging developments. More people were staying in shelters, and the share of people living without shelter dropped to its lowest level in the past four years.

Mayor Rex Richardson said the latest findings show that recent investments are beginning to make a difference.

“While homelessness remains one of the most pressing challenges for our community, this year’s results show important signs of progress,” Richardson said. “More people are accessing shelter, and fewer people are experiencing unsheltered homelessness. We remain committed to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening prevention efforts and working with our partners to help residents achieve long-term stability.”

More shelter beds help reduce unsheltered homelessness

According to the report, Long Beach continued expanding its coordinated shelter system throughout 2025. The city added 164 shelter beds, increasing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness to access temporary housing and supportive services.

Officials explained that shelters provide much more than a place to sleep. They also connect people with case management, behavioral health care, housing navigation, and other services that can help move them into permanent housing.

The data showed that 69.4% of people experiencing homelessness were unsheltered in 2026, down from 72.5% the previous year. At the same time, the percentage of people staying in shelters increased from 27.5% to 30.6%.

On the night of the count, 1,141 people were staying in shelters, an increase of 152 people, or 15.4%, compared with the previous year.

City officials said those numbers reflect expanded shelter access and demonstrate the importance of continuing efforts that help people transition from temporary housing into permanent homes. During 2025 alone, more than 1,700 people were connected with permanent housing through the city’s coordinated system.

New and chronic homelessness both increased

While more people accessed shelter, the report also identified concerning trends.

The percentage of people newly experiencing homelessness increased from 10.9% in 2025 to 12.4% in 2026. Officials said this category includes individuals whose current episode of homelessness has lasted less than one year.

The findings suggest that although fewer people became homeless for the first time, more people who had previously exited homelessness may have returned during the past year. City officials said the trend highlights the continuing need for homelessness prevention, housing stabilization, and rapid assistance before temporary hardships become long-term housing crises.

The report also showed a sharp increase in chronic homelessness, rising from 46.7% in 2025 to 58% in 2026.

Chronic homelessness generally involves people living with disabling conditions who have experienced homelessness continuously for at least one year or through repeated episodes over an extended period. Officials said these residents often require more intensive support, including permanent supportive housing and long-term case management.

Children experience improvement while affordability remains a major concern

One positive trend involved younger residents.

The city recorded an 11.7% decline in homelessness among children under 18, identifying nine fewer homeless youth than during the previous year’s count. Officials also reported that every child under 18 counted in 2026 was staying in a sheltered setting, meaning no unsheltered children or youth under 18 were identified on the night of the survey.

Long Beach continues working closely with the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing to strengthen housing and support services for children and young people.

The report also provided updated demographic information. The average age of people experiencing homelessness fell slightly from 47 to 46 years old.

Among those counted, 2,518 people (67.5%) identified as male, 1,174 (31.5%) identified as female, and 58 people (2.6%) identified as transgender or non-conforming.

By race and ethnicity, Black or African American residents represented 32.5%, followed by Latinx or Hispanic residents at 28.2%, White residents at 25.5%, Other races at 4.7%, Asian American and Pacific Islander residents at 3.8%, people identifying with multiple races at 3.8%, and Native American or Alaska Native residents at 1.5%.

Financial hardship continued to be the leading reason people reported losing housing. More than 40.4% of survey respondents identified financial problems or unemployment as contributing factors.

Other commonly reported causes included family disruption (29%), mental health challenges (20.4%), eviction (15.5%), physical disability (13.3%), and substance use (12%).

Nearly half of survey participants (49.1%) said they lost housing within Long Beach before becoming homeless, while 50.9% reported losing housing elsewhere. Among those newly experiencing homelessness, 61.9% said they had lost housing outside Long Beach, reinforcing the city’s view that homelessness is a regional issue rather than one limited to city boundaries.

New investments aim to prevent homelessness before it begins

Long Beach officials said they continue working with more than 80 service providers through the city’s Continuum of Care while following a Housing First approach focused on moving people into stable housing as quickly as possible.

In 2026, the city launched what officials described as the largest homelessness prevention investment in its history. New efforts include Upstream LB, which provides rental assistance, housing stabilization services, and support for residents at risk of losing their homes.

Other initiatives include programs to resolve encampments along the Los Angeles Riverbed, the Long Beach Renter Aid Program, the Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program, the Right to Counsel Program for tenants facing eviction, and a Youth Homelessness Prevention Unit scheduled to begin serving young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 in early fall 2026.

The city is also expanding affordable housing. Six developments supported by The Long Beach Community Investment Company are under construction and expected to open during 2026 and 2027, adding 375 affordable housing units, including homes with permanent supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. In addition, Luma Point, a development with 163 affordable apartments, is expected to open later this summer.

Officials encouraged residents to help connect people experiencing homelessness with available services and reminded the community that donation bins placed at libraries and other locations across Long Beach continue accepting essential supplies for those in need.