Newport Beach Seeks Short Term Homeless Solution

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —The City of Newport Beach seeks to find space for a temporary homeless shelter in Newport Beach, the City reported. At a Special Meeting on Wednesday, September 4, at 4 p.m., the City Council will hear public comments on three proposed spaces. They will then recess to a Closed Session to consider the three properties identified on the attached map.

“This is an important step toward providing a short-term solution to addressing the issue of homelessness in our community,” said Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill, who chairs the City’s Homeless Task Force. “As discussed at our recent Task Force meeting, immediate action is needed and providing temporary shelter beds complies with Ninth Circuit direction while we continue our work on longer-term housing solutions.”

In addition to the private properties identified for discussion on Wednesday, City-owned properties and regional solutions such as sharing a facility with a neighboring city, remain on the list of possible shelter locations.

Homelessness is a nationwide crisis that has generated a significant amount of public interest and scrutiny. In 2018, a federal judge overseeing Orange County’s homeless issues blocked cities from enforcing anti-camping laws if they do not have adequate shelter beds or other housing for homeless persons, the city said.

As a result, many communities without shelter beds are now seeing homeless encampments in public parks, transit stations, beaches, and other public properties.

Before going into Closed Session, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the potential negotiations as well as other issues of interest to the community.

As the City continues to take actions to develop or obtain shelter beds, public input will be solicited throughout the process.

While enforcement of laws is a critical and an essential part of addressing homelessness, it is one piece of the broader strategy to find long-term solutions to this complex issue. The Homeless Task Force is working to identify the specific needs of the homeless in Newport Beach, develop
long-term housing options, and provide resources and tools for residents and businesses, as well as for people experiencing homelessness.

“This is a complex and challenging issue for everyone involved, but it needs to be solved, and we’re committing a significant amount of City resources toward short- and long-term solutions,” said Mayor Diane Dixon.

City Council meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach.