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Youth Homeless Shelter Opens in Long Beach, Offering Hope and Stability
By Staff Writer
Published on Thu, Aug 21, 2025
A formerly vacant building on Hayes Avenue now serves as a safe haven for young people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach.
The new Youth Shelter and Navigation Center at 1718 Hayes Ave. is the City’s first permanent shelter designed specifically for 18- to 24-year-olds, giving them not just a bed, but a chance to reset and rebuild their lives.
The shelter can house up to 12 youth at a time, offering at least a 90-day stay with options to extend. Inside the 5,400-square-foot space, residents find showers, laundry, a lounge area, kitchenette and outdoor space for pets. It’s all part of creating a healing-centered environment where young people can focus on stability rather than survival.
While there, youth receive three meals a day, case management, housing navigation and connections to long-term wellness resources. It’s a “housing first” approach that prioritizes giving people a safe place to stay while simultaneously providing support and pathways to transition to permanent residences.
By opening its doors, the Youth Shelter and Navigation Center steps in to meet a critical need at a time when there are an estimated 90 transitional-age youth living on Long Beach’s streets, based on the 2025 Homeless Count.
The idea is to help prevent these young residents from slipping into long-term homelessness by giving them the support they need to move toward a brighter future.
Work on the project started in 2024, fueled by local and state funding. The project is part of the City’s wider push to convert underutilized buildings into meaningful community resources.
Community members who want to help can donate essential items at any Long Beach library branches during business hours, the Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach (3635 Long Beach Blvd.), and the Scherer Park Community Center (4654 Pasadena Ave.).
