By Dianne Anderson

For low-income renters barely surviving on fixed incomes, just a few hundred dollars can mean the difference between staying housed and becoming homeless.

The economic squeeze can be brutal.

But those who act fast may find relief through the City’s new Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program, offering qualifying low-income renters approximately $400 to $500 a month in time-limited rental assistance.

That’s as much as $12,000 over two years.

“Older adults living on fixed incomes are increasingly vulnerable to housing instability as rents continue to rise across the region,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in announcing the program.

To qualify, households must have at least one member who is 62 or older, or 55 or older with a disability. They must live in a non-subsidized Long Beach rental, have a household income at or below 50% of the area median income, and spend 70% or more of their income on rent.

Applications opened July 29. As of August 27, the City had received 318 applications from households meeting the program’s basic eligibility requirements, with more than 30 households selected and now in the enrollment process.

Paul Duncan, Homeless Services Bureau Manager, said the demand currently exceeds the funding available, and the City does not have an unlimited number of subsidy slots.

Before applying, eligible renters should review required documents and language options. Applications can be completed in the four languages offered by the City, with assistance available at several locations listed on the City’s webpage.

“We are actively pursuing additional funding opportunities that could allow us to serve more eligible households if funding becomes available,” he said.

Common reasons a household may be ineligible include having income above the program’s limit or not meeting the rent-burden requirement.

If rent is 40% or more higher than the household’s income, the City may determine that the $400 to $500 monthly subsidy would not be enough to keep the household housed.

Applicants receive an immediate email letting them know whether they meet the basic eligibility criteria. The application also asks about household history and vulnerabilities. That information, along with age, will be used to prioritize eligible households for selection.

“Given the level of demand, not every household that meets the basic eligibility requirements will necessarily be selected. The City is continuing to pursue additional funding to expand the number of households that can be served,” he said.

Based on current application volume and demand, the City plans to keep the application portal open through Sept. 10. After the application period closes, the City will make its selections and begin the enrollment process in September.

Low-income renters age 62 or older, or age 55 or older with a disability, who are struggling with their rent are encouraged to review the application and reach out for assistance if needed.

“Preventing homelessness requires upstream solutions that stabilize households before they enter crisis,” said Alison King, Director of Health and Human Services. “This Program will provide meaningful support to older adults facing severe rent burden while helping connect them to long-term housing stability and supportive services.”

Beyond rent relief, other Long Beach programs are helping residents connect and solve some everyday problems.

Long Beach Forward is also inviting residents to turn out, get the tools needed to understand how local decisions are made, and learn to advocate not only for themselves, but for others.

Running Saturdays from Sept. 12 through Nov. 7, the People’s Planning School will cover housing, tenant rights, transportation, land use and neighborhood development. Sessions also explore Long Beach’s racial, economic and political history, environmental justice, food justice and community organizing.

Giving residents a stronger voice in decisions about zoning, development and what happens in their neighborhoods is the goal.

Marlene Montañez, associate director of Long Beach Forward, said the school goes beyond teaching tenant rights, covering broader issues that shape how communities look and function.

“What are the ways that we want to create more community-centered spaces and areas? So not just spaces and areas where people have to pay for to exist, but areas that people can actually just thrive and enjoy being in nature, having trees around, ensuring that parks are accessible,” she said.

Residents are showing strong interest in the program, with more applicants than expected.

Black residents and local leaders are also showing up, but she is concerned that systemic challenges are making it harder for them to remain part of the conversation.

“A lot of our Black community is being highly displaced out of the city of Long Beach because of some of these policies that are pushing black families out, especially Black working women. If they’re single, they have more of those probability of being displaced out of the city of Long Beach.”

Montañez said ICE raids and fear of raids are also contributing to displacement in the Latino community.

“Either because folks are having to look into smaller spaces in order to make it unique because of the work being harder to find, or people are leaving certain areas that they feel are more targeted for raids. That’s creating a lot of the displacement for our Latino community,” she said.

She wants residents thinking about the big picture, including future housing policies and the 2028 Olympics, and how they could affect their communities.

“We want people to understand that they are the folks that can create [by] making sure they’re part of the crucial conversations,” she said. “We want them to also be advocating for folks at the state level as well.”

Long Beach Time Exchange also allows residents to trade time and skills instead of money, using credits earned by helping others.

Andy Cleff with the Long Beach Time Exchange said the project has diminished since COVID, but is still active, helping others with tasks, from plumbing, electrical and carpentry to bike, boat and auto repair, sewing, and home and garden care.

Volunteers have also provided their skills at the city’s Long Beach Fix-It Clinics, helping residents repair household items.

“What we saw, our fixers supported it at no cost. It’s just they love to fix stuff,” he said. “There was a handful of fixers who just volunteered their time to get time credits, which they can then use for themselves, and for things that they need.”

Also coming up for Long Beach families, the Public Library is offering early-childhood programming, Hispanic Heritage Month events and a 10-year celebration of the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.

In North Long Beach, the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library will mark its 10th anniversary with a free, family-friendly celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 5870 Atlantic Ave., featuring storytelling, music, dancing, hands-on activities and crafts.

Ina Buckner-Barnette, the Sunshine Storyteller, will lead an all-ages program from noon to 1:00 p.m. Teens can sketch their vision for the library’s next decade over snacks from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. Adults can customize anniversary tote bags from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., while children 12 and younger can decorate party hats from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

At Burnett Neighborhood Library, SBCC Preschool Without Walls will offer bilingual English-Spanish classes for children ages 0 to 5 and their caregivers on Thursdays, Sept. 10, 17 and 24. The library will also celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with its Vida Latina series.

“We offer a large variety of programs for all ages,” said Maurina Cintron, a public affairs assistant with the Long Beach Department of Library, Arts and Culture.

For more information:

On the Older Adult Shallow Subsidy, see City’s Older Adult Rental Assistance Program webpage. https://longbeach.gov/homelessness/homeless-services/olderadultrent/

On Time ExchangeLB see,  https://timeexchangelb.com/how-to-apply/

For City Library events, see https://www.longbeach.gov/library/events