Los Angeles County’s Pathway Home program brought 60 people experiencing homelessness off the streets of Signal Hill and Long Beach and into safe interim housing, where they will receive supportive services and other resources to help them transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
“Through this Pathway Home operation, we were able to bring entire encampments inside in a matter of days,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District. “These encampments were unhealthy for the people living in them and the entire community and I am grateful all these individuals are inside and getting the support they need. I appreciate both the cities of Signal Hill and Long Beach for being partners in this effort and embracing solutions to unsheltered homelessness.”
After years of living on the streets, Kelly Wilson and her dog named Monkey moved into interim housing during a Pathway Home operation, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)
The LA County Homeless Initiative collaborated with the Office of Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Cities of Signal Hill and Long Beach to conduct the Pathway Home operation on March 14, 2024, and ensure the operation’s success.
“We are thrilled to partner with the County on this vital program. Pathway Home is not just about providing shelter; it’s about offering a new beginning and a real chance for a stable, self-sufficient life for our homeless residents,” Signal Hill Mayor Lori Woods said. “We are happy to support this partnership which aligns with the City’s commitment to address homelessness with compassionate and sustainable long-term solutions; it also demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling significant social challenges.”
“For the second time in three months, we have partnered with LA County to bring folks indoors through Pathway Home,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “Every time we are able to provide shelter, hope, and resources for our unhoused neighbors, we take another step towards a brighter future for Long Beach. Thank you to the LA County Homeless Initiative and Supervisor Hahn’s Office for your support and partnership.”
Working closely with both cities, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and nonprofit service provider PATH led outreach efforts to bring the unsheltered individuals indoors, leveraging the trusting relationships they had established with the encampment residents and providing ongoing engagement and support leading up to the day of the operation.
LAHSA Homeless Engagement team members Louie Mendoza, left, and Travis Leach talk with a client during a Pathway Home operation in Signal Hill, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)
Signal Hill City Manager Carlo Tomaino said, “The City’s involvement in the Pathway Home program underscores our commitment to innovative and humane solutions for our homeless population. This partnership is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal of ending homelessness in our community.”
The LA County Department of Mental Health’s Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement (HOME) Team provided field-based support and treatment to Pathway Home clients during outreach, including crisis management when necessary. PATH will continue to support the clients during their stay in interim housing, including by providing housing navigation services to enable them to move into their own permanent homes.
Pathway Home is an LA County Homeless Initiative-led encampment resolution program that is a critical component of the County’s comprehensive response to the local emergency on homelessness adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2023. By leveraging emergency powers and partnerships with local jurisdictions, Pathway Home is a full-circle solution that brings people off the streets into immediately available interim housing accompanied by a comprehensive suite of supportive services and, ultimately, into safe, permanent homes.
Kim Barnette of the LA County Homeless Initiative holds a briefing ahead of the Pathway Home operation in Signal Hill and Long Beach, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Michael Owen Baker)