Homelessness

• Does Hermosa Beach have a shelter or other resource for housing the homeless?

  Through regional service providers such as PATH and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, Hermosa Beach has access to shelter beds, when they are available. However, there is a significant shortage of shelter beds available in Los Angeles County and wait lists for housing are extremely long. The City Council has approved $20,000 in the FY2022-2023 budget to use for securing temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness in Hermosa Beach. Hermosa Beach Police also have worked with other agencies in the past to secure shelter beds for people experiencing homelessness

• How many people experiencing homelessness are living in Hermosa Beach? Where are they and are their numbers growing?

  The 2022 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count identified 34 individuals experiencing homelessness in Hermosa Beach. Of those, 25 were living in vehicles and nine (9) were living on the street. The Homeless Count didn’t take place in 2021 because of concerns about COVID-19. So the previous count is two years old, and it found 28 people experiencing homelessness in Hermosa.

  In most of the previous surveys, the City’s Homeless Count has increased by 2-4 people per year. So the two-year increase estimated in the 2022 Homeless Count is similar to previous years.

• Is camping permitted in Hermosa Beach? If so, why and where is it legal and illegal?

  Camping or sleeping on private property is not permitted without the property owner’s permission. Please contact the Hermosa Beach Police Department in instances of camping or sleeping on private property. Overnight camping or loitering is prohibited on the beach and in City parks. Various City laws also prohibit any

  person from obstructing public ways, drinking alcohol in public and loitering in public and private buildings. The City works proactively with people experiencing homelessness to assist them in finding alternatives to sleeping in public places. It is the City’s intention to continue its outreach to people living on the streets. Outreach, coupled with the expansion of the number of shelter beds throughout Los Angeles County, will help decrease the number of people living on the streets.

• What are some recent examples of successful outcomes of the City’s efforts?

  In partnership with the City of Redondo Beach, the City of Hermosa Beach is hosting four monthly outdoor sessions of the Housing Initiative Court this year. The Housing Initiative Court gives people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to avoid prosecution on nonviolent misdemeanor charges or municipal code violations in exchange for accepting judge-mandated services that can eventually lead to placement in housing. Nearly 140 individuals have participated in the Housing Initiative Court, and 33 have graduated from the program. More information here.

  The City is working with South Bay Council of Governments to increase housing opportunities through Home Share South Bay. The program leverages the power of the internet to connect homeowners with the right people looking for an affordable room. With its special matching system, Home Share can help homeowners seeking extra income or help around the house to find a compatible housemate.

  The cities of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach previously received approximately $330,000 in funding for homeless services from the County of Los Angeles. These funds were used to implement each city’s homelessness plan, as well as employ three full-time contracted homeless services professionals specializing in outreach and housing navigation.

  The Hermosa Beach Police Department also received a Homeless Outreach Grant in 2017, which has made it possible for the department to dedicate officers to homeless outreach and dispatch. Officers have developed trusting relationships with people experiencing homelessness and have worked with regional service providers – including PATH, Harbor Interfaith Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health – to determine the best options for these individuals. This approach has been critical in developing trust and responsiveness to services throughout the local homeless population.

• What can Hermosa Beach Police or other City officials do to reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness in Hermosa Beach? Can Hermosa Beach Police Officers arrest people living on the streets or move them to another city?

  Homelessness is a public health crisis that requires a regional approach. As a small City with limited resources, and because of the constraints of laws regarding homelessness, it is important to understand that we cannot just enforce our way out of this issue. Only through collaboration with other agencies and resource providers, and by utilizing our local resources with County and regional support, can we make visible and long-lasting progress in reducing the overall impacts of homelessness in our community. Under law, Hermosa Beach Police cannot just move a person experiencing homelessness to another city without their consent. Because homelessness by itself is not a crime, the Hermosa Beach Police Department’s enforcement efforts are limited to current federal, state and local laws.

• What does the Hermosa Beach Police Department do when a person experiencing homelessness commits a crime?

  People experiencing homelessness are subject to the same laws as anyone else, and the Hermosa Beach Police Department enforces the law the same for homeless individuals as anyone else. However, being homeless is not a crime.

• What is the City of Hermosa Beach doing to address local homelessness issues?

  In 2018, the City of Hermosa Beach adopted a landmark Citywide Homelessness Plan to address these issues locally and as part of a broader regional strategy in collaboration with the County of Los Angeles. The Plan was developed with extensive input from the community and various local stakeholders.  Hermosa Beach has partnered with neighboring cities, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), and regional service providers such as People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), Harbor Interfaith Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to provide life-changing services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the community. As a result of this collaborative, regional effort, local individuals experiencing homelessness now have access to tailored services through an outreach and dispatch hotline, including housing and shelter assistance, mental health care and evaluation, and employment services. Each January, the City also conducts a point-in-time count of people living in their cars and on the street with local volunteers who gather useful data that helps guide County and local resources throughout the year. For information on additional efforts and resources or to volunteer for the next count, check back on this Homeless Services webpage and the City's event calendar.

• What should I do if I am at risk of homelessness due to potential eviction?

  You may contact one of these prevention services providers:

  Harbor Interfaith Services | www.harborinterfaith.org
  

  PATH | www.epath.org
  

   

• What should I do if I receive an eviction notice?

  • For tenants experiencing economic hardship amid COVID-19, if you receive an eviction notice, act immediately by contacting Stay Housed LA.

  Important Eviction Options if you do not pay rent during these periods:

  § October 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022: You may continue to be protected from eviction if you completed the “Housing is Key” application prior to 3/31/22.

  § April 1, 2022 - June 30, 2022: Tenants in most of Los Angeles County must pay their full rent, or they may be evicted during this period.

  § July 1, 2022 - December 31, 2022: Tenants in Los Angeles County (cities / unincorporated areas) may defer their rental payments during this period, if they qualify.

  The South Bay Council of Governments advises you to discuss your options with these free legal options:

  § Stay Housed LA - (888) 694-0040

  § Offers free legal services to tenants facing eviction by providing resources for L.A. County residents experiencing economic hardship amid the COVID-19 crisis to get legal and other assistance to stay in their homes. If you can't pay your rent because of COVID-19 financial hardship or are being threatened with eviction for any reason, know that you have rights and are protected by federal, state, and local laws.

  § Fill out the “Get Legal Help” form on this site to be referred to either Inner City Law Center, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, or another legal services organization in your area for a free consultation § California Tenant Power ToolKit

  § This project offers a core support team of Debt Collective organizers, technologists, and anti-eviction lawyers who can file your legal paperwork and support you through the process. § LA County Dept of Consumer & Business Affairs – Housing & Tenant Protections

  § The COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution (formerly the LA County Eviction Moratorium) extends certain protections to low-income residential and commercial tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County. This program has currently been extended through December 31, 2022, unless repealed or further extended.

  § It is important to understand that the Resolution does NOT prevent an unlawful detainer (eviction) from being filed, but it does provide tenants with an affirmative defense against an unlawful detainer (eviction) action.

• Who can I call to help someone experiencing homelessness who appears to need assistance?

  Please contact PATH at or email them at southbay@epath.org. Services are available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Other times, please leave a voicemail. LA-HOP request forms for services are available here. People in need of shelter may call the LA County help and information line at 211. For non-emergency assistance outside of regular business hours, please contact the City’s non-emergency dispatch line at 310-524-2750. Otherwise, for emergency assistance please dial 911.