Program Seeks to Prevent Senior Homelessness

The City of Long Beach has launched its Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program, a $1.8 million homelessness prevention initiative to provide direct monthly rental assistance to low-income seniors living on fixed incomes.

The new initiative provides qualifying older adults with $400 to $500 per month to alleviate severe rent burdens. Targeting around 150 households in Long Beach, the program helps participants stay in their homes while seeking long-term housing solutions. Participants can receive up to $12,000 over two years, with additional support available in special circumstances.

Participants receive monthly financial aid and "light-touch case management" from city staff, including quarterly check-ins to assess housing needs and connect seniors with community resources for health and basic needs.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson pointed out that many seniors are at risk of losing their homes due to severe rent burden, defined as spending 70% or more of their income on rent. This financial strain leaves them unable to cover basic living expenses or emergencies.

Recent homeless counts show that older adults are particularly vulnerable in Long Beach, often dealing with disabilities and isolation. Although interventions have reduced senior homelessness by nearly 33% in 2025, city leaders stress the need for proactive measures to help seniors stay in their homes and age in place safely.

Alison King, director of the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, highlighted that preventing homelessness requires addressing issues before housing loss. The shallow subsidy program offers financial relief to older adults with high rent burdens while connecting them to long-term housing stability and supportive services.

To qualify for the Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program, households must have at least one member age 62 or older, or age 55 or older with a documented disability. Applicants must live in non-subsidized rental housing within Long Beach and have a total household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income.

Applicant households must spend 70% or more of their income on rent and demonstrate the ability to sustainably pay the remaining rent portion after receiving the shallow subsidy.

Due to limited funding and subsidies, municipal administrators have set application priority guidelines. Households whose rental assistance or housing subsidies have expired or are set to expire within 60 days receive top priority.

This includes individuals transitioning from housing choice voucher programs, rapid rehousing, or other rental assistance programs. City staff will also consider secondary risk factors such as eviction threats, disabilities, fixed income, past homelessness, and overall household vulnerability when prioritizing applicants.

Funding for the $1.8 million program comes primarily from state sources, accounting for about 75% of the total, thanks to advocacy by California State Senator Lena Gonzalez. Los Angeles County provides the rest of the Measure A revenue, along with state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grants.

The Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program is a key part of UpstreamLB, Long Beach's main initiative for homelessness prevention and housing pathways. This program is the city's largest long-term investment in addressing homelessness, aiming to stabilize residents, support families in crisis, create pathways to permanent housing, and reduce displacement, particularly for seniors, youth, and low-income renters.

UpstreamLB is funded mainly by Los Angeles County Measure A, a housing and homelessness prevention tax measure approved by 57% of voters in November 2024. Managed by the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency, Measure A allocates nearly $16 million annually to Long Beach. In Fiscal Year 2026, the Long Beach City Council dedicated over $4 million to homelessness prevention and renter protection programs.

UpstreamLB includes various prevention initiatives alongside the senior shallow subsidy. In April 2026, the city launched the Long Beach Renter Aid Program, a $2.7 million effort assisting up to 1,000 low-income households with overdue rent, utility bills, and relocation costs to prevent displacement.

It also funds the Right to Counsel program, providing $1.5 million in free legal defense and tenant education for residents facing eviction, in partnership with Stay Housed LA. Since 2021, the program has helped more than 1,700 residents, achieving a 90% success rate in preventing housing loss.

The UpstreamLB strategy includes the Youth Homelessness Prevention Unit, launching in July 2026 with a $750,000 investment for young adults ages 18 to 25. This program, utilizing predictive data from the UCLA California Policy Lab, aims to identify at-risk youth for proactive case management and financial assistance. Additionally, the city is allocating $5.28 million in Measure A funds for direct loans and investments to boost affordable housing construction.

Long Beach residents can apply for the Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program online at longbeach.gov/olderadultrent to avoid wait times. Application forms are available in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog. Applications are processed on a rolling basis until all subsidy slots are filled.

City staff offers in-person assistance at two locations. Visit the Long Beach Multi-Service Center at 1301 West 12th Street on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m.) and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Long Beach Senior Center at 1150 East 4th Street provides support on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For questions, email ShallowSubsidy@longbeach.gov.

For any inquiries or further information, please contact Jose Cervantes at JoseC.Press@pm.me