City of Long Beach Opens Youth Shelter and Navigation Center to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

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PRESS RELEASE

City leaders celebrate the completion of the Youth Shelter and Navigation Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony held on Aug. 6, 2025.
Above from left: Paul Duncan, Homeless Services Bureau Manager, Department of Health and Human Services; Teresa Chandler, Deputy City Manager; Roberto Uranga, Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember; Alison King, Director, Department of Health and Human Services; Rex Richardson, Mayor; Marilyn Surakus, Project Management Bureau Manager, Department of Public Works.

Long Beach, CA - Today, Aug. 6, 2025, the City of Long Beach hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Youth Shelter and Navigation Center, the City's first permanent shelter facility for youth experiencing homelessness. The facility provides temporary shelter and supportive services for youth ages 18-24, marking a significant milestone in the City's efforts to address homelessness.

"Long Beach's new Youth Shelter and Navigation Center represents the latest step forward in our city's investments toward our goal of ending youth homelessness," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This center will provide youth in need with a safe place to sleep and a safe place to get the support they need to get back on their feet."

The Youth Shelter and Navigation Center (1718 Hayes Ave.) provides essential, year-round support for transitional-age youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness. This low-barrier, 12-bed housing first shelter offers 24/7 care grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices. Services include case management, housing navigation, three daily meals, hygiene access and connections to long-term housing and wellness resources. The program supports both transitional and permanent housing pathways, beginning with a 90-day enrollment period that may be extended as youth work toward lasting stability and self-sufficiency.

The facility includes restrooms, showers, laundry, a kitchenette, and a lounge area, offering a healing-centered space for youth to rebuild. Participants are referred through the City's Multi-Service Center or Mobile Access Center and receive transportation assistance and an introduction to available services upon entry. With 90 transitional-age youth identified as experiencing homelessness in Long Beach's 2025 count, the center responds to a critical community need and reflects a shared commitment to dignity, equity and a brighter future for Long Beach youth.

"The Youth Shelter and Navigation Center is a testament to what we can achieve when we lead with compassion," said Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember Roberto Uranga. "We are proud to welcome this vital space to West Long Beach and in turn offer our youth the support and services they need to move forward. We are committed to investing in compassionate solutions that break the cycle of homelessness."

The project began in response to the City's homelessness emergency, highlighting the urgent need for housing solutions and demonstrating the City's commitment to repurposing underutilized properties into meaningful spaces. Renovations on the 5,400-square-foot center began in January 2024, turning a vacant building into a safe, welcoming space with a fully remodeled interior, upgraded amenities and improved exterior features, including a pet relief area.

"Addressing youth homelessness is crucial because young people experiencing homelessness are at higher risk for mental health issues, substance abuse, trafficking, and long-term chronic homelessness," said Alison King, Director of Health and Human Services. "Early intervention can significantly improve their future stability and well-being."

The Youth Shelter and Navigation Center was developed as part of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program, available to cities, counties and continuums of care with flexible funding to prevent and end homelessness in their regions. The project received $1.8 million from Measure A funds, $900,000 from the state's Homeless Emergency Aid Program (administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development), and $1.4 million from State AB32 funds

The Youth Shelter and Navigation Center will be a vital resource for people without homes.

Long Beach residents can support youth in need by donating essential items at any open Long Beach Public Library location during regular business hours or at the following sites:

• Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Scherer Park Community Center (4654 Pasadena Ave.), Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.

For details on other recent homeless services projects in Long Beach, visit the project pages for Homekey at 1725 Long Beach Blvd. and Homekey at 5950 Long Beach Blvd.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.

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