Long Beach explores housing homeless students in tiny homes

Long Beach is shifting the focus of its tiny homes project toward housing students experiencing homelessness, as officials from the city government and Long Beach City College discuss a collaboration that could provide needed shelter for unhoused LBCC students.

Officials said the possible partnership would help the city find a viable location for tiny homes, help the college provide an added avenue toward student housing stability and directly impact LBCC students experiencing homelessness.

“It’s absolutely critical that we continue to support young people in our city, as they will be the ones that shape the future of Long Beach,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement earlier this month. “We are having meaningful conversations with our partners at LBCC, to see how collectively we can provide some housing security for students experiencing homelessness, so that they can better focus on their education and career paths. In the long run, this helps support our entire community.”

Discussions with the college are in the early stages, and a location for the tiny homes is not determined yet.

For the past several months officials had considered the city-owned property at the corner of California Avenue and East Spring Street, connected to Willow Springs Park, as a potential space for a tiny homes facility. However, costs related to installing utilities and clean-up due to previous uses of the site led officials to no longer considering it as a feasible option.

As an alternative, city staff recommended to council members consider dedicating the 46.24-acre Parcel A of Willow Springs Park be officially as park space in perpetuity, according to the city statement. The council is also considering the future dedication of the 1.8-acre northwest corner of the park, Parcel B, as forever park space once city establishes a land bank pursuant to the City Charter.

The city’s proposed budget also under council consideration seeks $1 million for the Willow Springs Trailhead Project to restore the area’s natural environment.

“It was important that we explored the different possible uses for Parcel B in support of our community,” 5th District Councilwoman Megan Kerr said in a statement. “As we all know, when one door closes, another opens. As the tiny homes project takes a new direction, I am excited at the prospect of Willow Springs Park’s long-awaited dedication as official park space in perpetuity, as well as the potential for some well-deserved upgrades that the entire community can enjoy.”

The tiny homes at a potential LBCC facility will be approximately 100-square-foot single occupancy modular units, each containing a bed, restroom and shower, lighting, electrical outlets, personal HVAC and storage, according to the city. Each tiny unit will also have a fire suppression system, and both standard and ADA-accessible units will be available.

Officials were also planning how the city and LBCC will work together to make sure appropriate amenities, supervision and supportive services are provided to students experiencing homelessness, including connecting them with opportunities to move into permanent housing.

Funding for the tiny homes is from a state Homekey Program Round 2 Grant, which was awarded to the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services in August 2022.

Official decisions on the tiny homes at LBCC will be made by the Long Beach City Council and the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees. Both panels will discuss the matter during upcoming open-session meetings, allowing for public participation.