City of Long Beach Announces 2025-26 Winter Shelter and Inclement Weather Shelter

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - With temperatures beginning to drop, the City of Long Beach has activated its winter shelter operations and inclement weather shelter to support people experiencing homelessness during the colder winter months.

"Cold and wet weather conditions can turn dangerous quickly, particularly for our neighbors experiencing homelessness," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By expanding our shelter beds, we are ensuring that people have somewhere safe to go when conditions worsen. This work can save lives and I'm grateful for the City staff and partners who show up for our community and provide them care and resources when it matters most."

Winter Shelter
The City's Emergency Shelter, located at 702 W. Anaheim St., has transitioned to winter shelter operations, expanding its nightly occupancy from 85 to up to 125 people. This 24/7 service, which began on Nov. 17, will operate through March 31, 2026, in partnership with First to Serve Outreach Ministries and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which also funds this seasonal expansion.

Participants will receive three meals per day, access to showers, restrooms and an enclosed outdoor area, and accommodations for service animals and pets. Shelter guests will also be connected to vital supportive services, including housing-focused case management, referrals to permanent and year-round shelter programs, assistance obtaining identification and vital documents, and connections to behavioral health and social service resources.

"As temperatures drop, supporting our neighbors who are unhoused with care and urgency is a top priority," said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. "This expanded shelter plan reflects our continued focus on safety, dignity and compassion, and I'm grateful to our partners and staff working around the clock to connect people with a warm place to sleep and the services that can help them move forward."

Access to the shelter requires referral from the Multi-Service Center (MSC) or Mobile Access Center.

Inclement Weather Shelter
In addition to the City's 400 year-round shelter beds and 40 winter shelter beds, the MSC has been activated as an emergency overnight shelter during periods of extreme weather, providing low-barrier shelter for up to 65 people, with separate spaces for men and women.

Living outdoors or in places not meant for human habitation during inclement weather conditions such as cold, rain or wind significantly increases the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, heart attacks from overexertion and other health complications. The inclement weather shelter reduces these risks by providing a warm, dry and safe space when it is needed most.

Effective immediately, the shelter may be activated when any of the following occur:

• Forecasted temperatures of 45° F or lower
• A flood watch or warning has been issued by the National Weather Service
• Weather forecasts predict rain that exceeds light showers

Participants will receive a cot and blanket, hot dinner and light breakfast, access to restrooms and hygiene supplies, support from City staff and security and connections to services via the MSC. All participants will be required to vacate the facility in the morning and may return when the MSC resumes standard operations.

When activated, Homeless Services Bureau staff, including general outreach, REACH teams and the Mobile Access Centers, will conduct direct outreach to notify people experiencing unsheltered homelessness of the shelter opportunity. Information on how to access shelter will also be shared on the City's social media platforms.

For more information, visit longbeach.gov/homelessness.

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: 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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