HUNTINGTON BEACH Calif. — The city of Huntington Beach is making slow but steady progress on its homelessness goals, a recent report finds.

“Obviously there’s more work to be done. The issue of homelessness is a large issue that’s multifaceted. There’s not one single solution because every person is different,” said Jennifer Carey, spokesperson for the city of Huntington Beach. 

What You Need To Know

  • Staff contacted 4,411 homeless residents in 2021

  • The Navigation Center was forced to reduce capacity to align with social distancing requirements but will be back to full capacity soon

  • The Navigation Center helped place 71 people with housing vouchers and helped put 45 people into permanent housing

  • The city is considering an additional investment that will go into facilities for drug and alcohol detoxification

Surf City, like other neighboring cities, has been adding program after program to decrease homeless numbers. Some programs help people find permanent housing with a relative or through various private or government programs. Social workers help link people up with jobs or mental health treatment. And the city’s Navigation Center offers people a place to stay while they sort out something long term or permanent. 

“It is never easy to ask for help, so when members of our homeless community are ready to accept services, it is important they have a safe, clean and well-managed facility, like the Navigation Center, available to them,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Barbara Delgleize in a news release.

The city has also contracted with Be Well OC to operate vans that can respond to non-emergency mental health calls. That program, though not specifically for homeless people, regularly responds to disturbances instead of police.

So far, the Be Well OC service has siphoned roughly 200 calls a month from the Huntington Beach Police Department. The city is getting a second van soon, Carey said, to further ease the strain on police.

No one program can solve the problem because people are complex, as are the reasons that lead them to homelessness. 

The city council has been deeply invested in solving the problem, with some members saying that homelessness is the top issue constituents want addressed.

The homelessness report also noted that the city made contact more than 4,400 times in 2021. At the Navigation Center, the city helped 248 get benefits or documents like Social Security cards. And 448 received help with substance use.

But not all are ready or willing to accept help, requiring social workers and other staff to contact them in the eventual hope they’ll agree to accept a housing voucher or other help.

The report also noted that the city has matched 71 people with housing vouchers and place 45 people into permanent housing.

Carey said it’s not always quick or easy getting people the help they need. Many times, homeless people delivered into the system don’t have Social Security cards or driver’s licenses. Those are crucial documents for anyone in search of a job, housing or any of the deepening list of programs designed to help the homeless.

The city has more plans to increase its efforts to help homeless people off the streets.

Over the summer, the city hired Jason Austin away from the county as a deputy director who oversees behavioral and mental health programs. He’s been tasked with continually coordinating all the existing city resources and programs. He’ll help think out additional investments the city plans to make to its system of homeless care.

“We’ve gotten through the folks who really want help, and now we’re into the harder cases,” said Huntington Beach City Council Member Dan Kalmick.

Next, the city wants to build a “healing center” modeled off of the Be Well Orange Campus. That facility offers a residential sober center and drug detoxification program.

What elements Huntington Beach will take are still up for discussion.

“We’re still evaluating what we need,” Kalmick said. “We want to make sure the solution is tailored to Huntington Beach.”