New Location, Management As Winter Shelter Reopens

By Kurt Helin, Editor at Gazettes.com - 11/23/06

Next week, the winter homeless shelter will open its doors, bringing the annual cold-weather shelter program back to Long Beach - although this year a few things will be different.

Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously approved steps needed to clear the way for the shelter, which this year will be run by the Long Beach Rescue Mission.

That's one of the changes. For many years New Image had run the shelter in Long Beach, and had a contract with the regional Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to do so again this year. However, New Image organizers said last year they were tired of fighting to find a shelter location in Long Beach each year.

"New Image returned their contract to LAHSA," said Corinne Schneider, manager of the city's Human and Social Services Bureau. "So there was a (request for proposals) and the Rescue Mission was chosen."

The location is on the move again, this time taking over the former Community Rehabilitation Industries building at 1500 E. Anaheim St., at Walnut Avenue and near MacArthur Park. The city's Redevelopment Agency took control of the building earlier this week.

"We should be open Dec. 1, although we’ve got a lot of cleanup to do," Schneider said.

Through March 15 it will be a 200-bed shelter, where homeless will be able to receive two meals a day, plus have access to showers and bathrooms. The goal is to keep homeless inside and safe when the weather gets cold, and last year more than 1,000 people took advantage of the service, including many families.

There also will be case management services, helping the homeless get back on their feet by finding jobs and housing.

As in years past, homeless people cannot just walk up to the door of shelter and get in - there will be two pickup points, one at the city's Homeless Multi-Service Center on the Westside and one at the Butler Building downtown (Magnolia Avenue at Broadway).

The council approved the opening of the shelter unanimously.


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