Homelessness

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Local Response

The City has taken a strategic and regional approach to address homelessness. By working with the City's regional partners at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) and Harbor Interfaith Services (HIS) the City has begun to direct individuals experiencing homelessness to resources in the South Bay region.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department has been responsive to concerns and continues to actively monitor incidents while respecting the rights of homeless individuals and ensuring public safety. To report incidents of public safety concern, related to homeless individuals, please call the Police Department's non-emergency number at (310) 545-4566.

Submit an Outreach Request

Did you see someone experiencing homelessness who needs help or may be struggling with their physical or mental health? You can help them by filling out an outreach request to alert us as to any specific concerns you may have regarding the person’s well-being. This portal serves as a way for citizens to request services for homeless individuals in need of resources. It is not meant to be a tool to report criminal activity or emergency services. Outreach is restricted to the "literally homeless" defined as "an individual that has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation."

The Manhattan Beach Police Department and the City's dedicated housing navigator/case manager respond to these concerns involving homeless individuals.

If there is a public safety concern, related to homeless individuals, please call the Police Department's non-emergency number at (310) 545-4566.

If there is a public safety, medical or mental health emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Outreach Statistics

Homelessness and the Law

In California, many cities have enacted several laws to discourage camping and homeless-related activities, but there are no laws that specifically bans or restricts homelessness. Prior to the Boise decision, like many cities, Manhattan Beach enforced its anti-camping laws and would encourage individuals experiencing homelessness to seek shelter elsewhere, but it was not a sufficient deterrent to stop all camping in public places. While being homeless is not a crime, the Manhattan Beach Police Department will take enforcement actions wherever it is appropriate. The City upholds its laws and ordinances with all residents, including the homeless. Below is some additional information regarding homelessness and the law.

Martin v. Boise

The Martin v. Boise case challenged the City of Boise’s (Idaho) enforcement of its Camping and Disorderly Conduct Ordinances against persons experiencing homelessness—those who need to sleep in public in the absence of adequate housing or shelter. In 2018, a panel of the 9^th Circuit held that “as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter.” Following that ruling, the City of Boise petitioned the entire 9^th Circuit to rehear the case (“en banc”), which was rejected. Boise then asked the Supreme Court to hear the case and in 2019, the Court rejected that request, thereby affirming that within the 9^th Circuit, “the Eighth Amendment preclude[s] the enforcement of a statute prohibiting sleeping outside against homeless individuals with no access to alternative shelter.” To read the full decision and see some FAQs, please click on the links below:

Martin v. Boise Decision

Anti-Camping Ordinance

To maintain public areas within the City in a clean, sanitary, safe and accessible condition, the Manhattan Beach City Council adopted an Ordinance on September 4, 2018, prohibiting camping and storing personal property in public areas. The City has taken the following measures to enforce the Ordinance in a manner that is in full compliance with the Constitution, while addressing homelessness in a deliberate and humane manner.

Designation of homeless liaison that reports directly to the City Manager
Outreach and education, including the formation of a homeless task force
Coordination with regional homeless care services
Proactive communication with area shelters to determine availability
Assisting homeless individuals with finding adequate shelter
Secure additional mental health clinician hours

If the City has arranged for adequate and available shelter, and an individual chooses not to use it, the City will enforce the new Ordinance.

In response to the Martin v. Boise decision, the City joined a coalition of California local public agencies in support of the City of Boise’s Petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. However, on December 16, 2019, the Supreme Court announced that it would not review the Boise decision.

Johnson v. City of Grants Pass

Post Martin v. Boise, the Johnson v. City of Grants Pass case challenged the City of Grants Pass's (Oregon) enforcement of its anti-camping ordinance against persons experiencing homelessness—those who need to sleep in public in the absence of adequate housing or shelter. The City of Grants Pass' anti-camping ordinance relied on civil citations for enforcement before resorting to criminal sanctions and included verbiage banning individuals from using forms of protection from the elements, such as sleeping bags or other bedding materials. In 2022, a panel of the 9^th Circuit held that “Imposing a few extra steps before criminalizing the very acts Martin explicitly says cannot be criminalized does not cure the anti-camping ordinances' Eighth Amendment infirmity.” The court further iterated, "Our decision reaches beyond Martin slightly" in that "the only plausible reading of Martin is that it applies to the act of 'sleeping' in public, including articles necessary to facilitate sleep." The right to protection against the elements is limited and does not include the use of stoves, fires, or the building of structures. To read the full decision and see some FAQs, please click on the links below:

Johnson v. City of Grants Pass Decision

Additionally, at the September 19, 2023, meeting City Council authorized the City Attorney to join in the support of an amicus brief along with various cities and associations in their writ action questioning the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property and their relation to the Eighth Amendment. See notable links below:

Petition For A Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit

Previously Submitted Amicus Curiae Brief by California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities in Support of Defendant-Appellant’s Petition For Rehearing En Banc

Lanterman-Petris Short Act (LPSA)

Many individuals experiencing homelessness suffer from inadequate mental health treatment. Over the ensuing decades, the laws regarding mental health treatment have changed and none were more significant than in 1967 when California passed the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPSA) which sought to, “end the inappropriate, indefinite, and involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders.” It also established a right to prompt psychiatric evaluation and treatment, and imposed specific timeframes on involuntary confinement and limited involuntary holds (typically no more than 72 hours) to those deemed a danger to themselves or others. This law effectively ended all hospital commitments by the judiciary system. Click on the link below to read the entire LPSA.

Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPSA)

For some time, the City of Manhattan Beach City Council has taken legislative positions to change the State’s government code to address mental health ailments. To see a list of the City Council’s positions see the City’s Legislative positions page.

Criminal Justice Reform and Homelessness

Beginning in 2014, California voters and the State legislature enacted a series of criminal justice reforms through AB 109, Prop 47, and Prop 57, which has placed limitations on law enforcement's ability to respond to increases in criminal activity. In summary:

AB 109 transferred the responsibility of housing certain criminals from State prison to County jail facilities; however, local jail facilities were already full, which resulted in the early release of about 45,000 low-level criminals to relieve prison overcrowding.
Prop 47 was approved by 60 percent of voters which changed crimes like shoplifting, theft, or forgery and possession of illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, from felony offenses to misdemeanor offenses.
Prop 57 allowed the State authority to release up to 30,000 inmates from State prisons.

Furthermore, the Los Angeles County District Attorney Office issued new policy directives in December 2020. While the changes to State law and policy decisions to not prosecute offenses are being made at the County level, it has been and will continue to be the practice of the Manhattan Beach Police Department to enforce all laws in the City. This includes crimes committed by individuals like theft, assault, drug possession, and other offenses regardless of their dwelling status. Ongoing efforts to revise the City's prosecution abilities continued to be considered by the City Council.

If a crime has been committed in the City of Manhattan Beach, regardless of whether the District Attorney’s Office chooses to prosecute, the individual will be cited and/or arrested by the Manhattan Beach Police Department.

Homeless Count Data

Homelessness Count Data

Homeless Count Results - 2024 On January 24, 2024 approximately 30 volunteers gathered at the Joslyn Community Center to conduct the 2024 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count in Manhattan Beach. At the event, volunteers were introduced to City officials and briefed on the City’s response to homelessness including the City’s actions to utilize general fund and grant funded money. Most importantly, volunteers were introduced to the Police Department’s homeless outreach team as well as the City’s contracted outreach services worker,

For a breakdown of Homeless Count numbers from previous years, see the links below.

Community Resource Guide and Card

Consistent with the City's Homelessness Plan and efforts to educate the community on various resources in the South Bay, the City has produced a homeless resource guide (PDF). The guide summarizes a variety of resources offered near the Manhattan Beach area for those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the guide contains a resource card that offers important phone numbers for quick reference.

Grant Funding

Measure H Grant

On March 7, 2017, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors obtained voter approval for a 10-year, ¼ cent sales tax increase to help fund housing and support services for the homeless population throughout the County. Since the passage of Measure H, various cities have taken an active role in addressing homelessness. In October 2017, 47 cities were awarded homelessness planning grants. Manhattan Beach was one of the cities to apply for, receive this funding, and subsequently develop a homelessness plan.

Pursuant to City Council authorization in November 2018, and at the recommendation of the homelessness task force, the City submitted a multi-jurisdictional proposal with the cities of Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach (referred to as: South Bay Beach Cities), to the County for outreach and education, coordination of regional efforts to address homelessness and housing navigation services. In April 2019, the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative announced the award of Measure H grant funding to the South Bay Beach Cities totaling $330,666 towards homeless coordination, training and housing navigation services.

Through the $330,666 City Homelessness Plan Implementation Grant provided by the County of Los Angeles and approved by the Manhattan Beach City Council on September 4, 2019, the City (along with regional partners in Redondo and Hermosa Beach) solicited proposals from a qualified homeless service provider. City Council has awarded a subcontract to a qualified homeless services firm, Harbor Interfaith Services, to provide three full-time equivalent positions to assist homeless individuals and families in the South Bay Beach Cities.

In February 2022, a second round of Los Angeles County Measure H grant funding was applied for through the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and was awarded in the amount of $216,000. These additional funds supplied two outreach workers to service the cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach. Redondo Beach and El Segundo.

Mental Health Evaluation Team

The City of Manhattan Beach, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) and the cities of Redondo and Hermosa Beach, is proud to provide mental evaluation services through compassionate field intervention. In 2017, these four agencies launched the Beach Cities Mental Evaluation Team (MET). MET is a co-response model to respond to 911 calls or requests from field patrol officers to assist with calls for service regarding mentally-ill persons. Each team consists of one officer and one mental health clinician. For more information regarding Mental Evaluation Team services, please visit LACDMH.

If you would like to request MET services or report an incident with the Manhattan Beach Police Department, please call our non-emergency number Dispatch Center at (310) 545-4566.

Homeless Liaison