Long Beach : Mayor Establishes Fund to Benefit the Homeless

Mayor Ernie Kell, long criticized by activists for doing too little to help the homeless in Long Beach, has formed a Mayor’s Homeless Fund to which individuals and businesses can make tax-deductible cash donations.

“Many times people will ask, ‘What can we do to help the homeless?’ The mayor’s fund will allow every concerned individual in the city to contribute what they can,” Kell said.

The idea of a homeless fund, already established by several other mayors around the state, was first recommended to Kell by the city’s homeless task force in November, 1987. “It’s been a long time, but certainly better late than never,” said Dennis Rockway, a task force member. “The mayor has always been known as a prodigious fund-raiser and this is a way for him to do more for the homeless.” The number of homeless people in Long Beach is estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000.

The money will be administered by the city’s Homeless Advisory Committee, which will recommend how the money should be used. Final spending will be subject to approval by the City Council.