Dear Friend --

Yesterday I was extremely proud to stand with our Department of Health and Human Services, many community partners, and local residents to re-launch the Mayor’s Fund to End Homelessness.

Established in 1990, the Mayor’s Fund has been an important source of resources to fill gaps in current services, but we have not used it to its full potential. Now, in partnership with an outstanding local nonprofit, the Long Beach Community Foundation, we will be expanding our fundraising efforts and enhancing the use of the Fund to support individuals and families who are either experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

The Fund will assist people who are on the verge of homelessness with utility bills, furnishing subsidized housing, and reuniting with families, These are important services that align with the goals identified by the the Everyone Home Task Force which I assembled last year.

You can read more about the Everyone Home campaign here.

As part of this kick off, we’ve begun installing “Change for Change” meters, which are parking meters we’ve re-purposed to collect donations that will go directly to people in need, through the Long Beach Community Foundation. We’ve already placed four of these meters around the city – one downtown, two on Second Street in Belmont Shore, and one on Retro Row near the LGBT Center. There are more to come in the near future.

As part of this kick off, we’ve begun installing “Change for Change” meters, which are parking meters we’ve re-purposed to collect donations that will go directly to people in need, through the Long Beach Community Foundation. We’ve already placed four of these meters around the city—one downtown, two on Second Street in Belmont Shore, and one on Retro Row near the LGBT Center. There are more to come in the near future.

Just a few dollars from every concerned resident would go a long way to making a big difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

We know many people are uncomfortable with panhandling, and the “Change for Change” meters provide a way to ensure your spare change helps support positive changes in people’s lives. They are also a way to help raise awareness about homelessness and the Mayor’s Fund.

But these meters are just one small part of the city’s ongoing and nationally recognized efforts to get Everyone Home.

I want to recognize Councilmember Al Austin for bringing forward the proposal to install the “Change for Change” meters. My thanks also to our Director of Health and Human Services Kelly Collopy and her entire team, the Long Beach Community Foundation, all our community partners in the continuum of care, and everyone who has supported the Mayor’s Fund over the years.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about the Mayor’s Fund in the future, including receiving a donation request in your utility bills this holiday season. I hope you’ll support the Mayor’s Fund and help us in our efforts to get Everyone Home.

Go Long Beach!

Mayor Robert Garcia