The city of Long Beach is accepting applications for a new homelessness prevention initiative that provides rental assistance and housing support to older adults living on meager fixed incomes.
The $1.8 million Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program is expected to serve approximately 150 households and is part of Upstream LB, the city’s coordinated strategy to prevent homelessness.
“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 a statement. “This program reflects our commitment to preventing homelessness before it happens by helping older adults remain safely housed while connecting them to long-term housing and supportive services.”
Program participants receive approximately $400 to $500 monthly in rental assistance. Participants will also receive “light-touch case management” that include quarterly check-ins to assess ongoing assistance needs and offer referrals to supportive services and other available resources, officials said.
Eligible participants may receive up to $12,000 in assistance over a two-year period, with additional support possibly available for program participants experiencing extenuating circumstances, according to the city.
The Older Adult Shallow Subsidy Program is open to households that meet all of these criteria:
- Have at least one household member who is age 62 or older, or age 55 or older with a disability;
- Live in non-subsidized rental housing in Long Beach;
- Have a household income at or below 50% of the area median income;
- Be experiencing severe rent burden, defined as spending 70% or more of household income on rent; and
- Demonstrate the ability to sustainably pay rent with shallow subsidy assistance.
The city will accept applications until all available subsidy slots are filled, officials said. Eligible residents may apply online or in person. Applications in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog are available via longbeach.gov/olderadultrent, in addition to more information about applying and in-person locations.
Officials encouraged early application due to limited funds.
Priority goes to applicants whose existing rental assistance or housing subsidy has expired or is set to expire in the next 60 days, including participants in voucher, rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention and other rental assistance programs where monetary support is coming to an end. Officials added that other priority factors may include urgency of eviction risk, “disabling conditions,” fixed-income status, prior experiences of homelessness and other vulnerabilities.
About 75% of the program’s funding is from the state through the advocacy of Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, supplemented by Los Angeles County Measure A and a state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention grant funds, city officials reported.
“Preventing homelessness requires upstream solutions that stabilize households before they enter crisis,” Alison King, director of Long Beach Health and Human Services, said in a statement. “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.”
The Older Adult Shallow Subsidy program was initially announced in April alongside the launch of the Long Beach Renter Aid Program as part of Upstream LB.
Residents interested in learning more about the program may email ShallowSubsidy@longbeach.gov for updates and additional information.
