Homelessness is a nationwide issue, but especially dire here in California.  In recent years, the number of individuals experiencing homelessness has soared.  According to a February 2021 report of the California State Auditor, more than 151,000 Californians were homeless in 2019, an increase of 15% from 2017, and the economic impact of the recent Covid-19 pandemic is likely to further exacerbate this crisis.  As of the January 2020 Long Beach Point-in-Time count, almost 2,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Long Beach. 

NCJW – GLB & WOC participates in the Long Beach Homeless Coalition (https://homelesslb.org/) whose mission is “to foster connection between individuals, groups, and organizations who desire to aid people experiencing homelessness." We also sit on the Long Beach Continuum of Care (“CoC”) Board (http://www.longbeach.gov/health/services/directory/homeless-services/coc-meetings/) as a representative of a nonprofit faith‑based organization. 

 

The CoC system is a group of organizations, such as homeless service providers, the city of Long Beach, and other stakeholders, that receives funding from the federal government and coordinates the funding of services and housing to address homelessness in Long Beach.

 

We educate our members and the community on these issues, as well as contribute financially and through community service.  Recent community service projects included donations of hand-made fleece blankets and a housewarming for individuals and families who had been able to secure housing.