It’s not illegal to be homeless.

It’s not illegal to stand on a sidewalk, or sleep on a park bench during the day, either. But for the residents and business owners of east Long Beach, the people doing those things are problematic.

“It’s our number one problem,” Dede Rossi, executive director of the Belmont Shore Business Association, said. “It’s frustrating to see more homeless people on the street in the morning than customers. They move here from the beach, where they sleep.”

Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price said she has received numerous calls regarding the homeless population in her district. She is planning a community meeting on the issue next month, and said that she has been working with both the police department and health department, searching for answers.

“We dealt with the (Belmont Veterans Memorial) Pier area by building up the sand underneath, changing the environment so it was tough to stay there,” Price said. “But we still have a problem on the beaches and the beach bathrooms. No matter how we lock them, they find ways to break the locks.

“The homeless today are very different than they were three or four years ago. We’re at a point where we don’t really know how to deal with them. Some are drug addicts, and they’re choosing to be homeless.”

Resources Spent

Long Beach has targeted elimination of homelessness for more than a decade, and gets millions of dollars every year from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development for services to the homeless population. Efforts including the Multi-Service Center, the Villages at Cabrillo, the Bethune Transitional School and the Continuum of Care have made Long Beach a model for other municipalities when it comes to homeless services, and the city has seen a drop in overall homeless numbers.

An initiative over the last year to get homeless military veterans off the streets has been largely successful, thanks in part to nonprofits including U.S. Vets of Long Beach. But officials talk about “functional zero,” meaning there may be enough beds for homeless veterans, but others become newly homeless and need services too.

“We do get a lot of calls,” Teresa Chandler, the city’s homeless services coordinator, said. “We’re responding with our chronic homeless team, and we’re going out at various times of day (to make contact). Many times we’ll include the PD officer (who handles homeless issues) and we also bring along the specialty groups like the vets or mental health, as appropriate.

“We try to get them to commit to going to the appropriate resources. But it often takes several contacts before they agree to accept help. The veterans, for example, often know these guys by name.”

Concerns About Crime

While homeless people loitering in the business districts are disconcerting, many are blaming a rise in property crimes in nearby neighborhoods on the homeless, as well. The Friends of Belmont Shore group is focusing on the homeless issue at this month’s meeting, at 6 p.m. next Wednesday, June 29, at St. Bartholomew Church, 5100 Broadway.

“Residents of Belmont Shore and Belmont Park have been expressing more and more concern about the homeless population in our neighborhood,” Friends president Dick Gaylord said. “If you follow Next Door — over 200 residents have made comments and are asking for a community meeting. We are dedicated our next meeting to this.”

Price, a deputy district prosecutor in Orange County, said she is certain an increase in property crime can be attributed to more homeless in the area. In particular, several groups have appeared to set up bicycle “chop shops,” she said.

“The homeless are definitely at least partially responsible for property crimes,” Price said. “What they get is currency for drugs. The number one thing you should do is register your bicycle, take pictures and secure your property.

Moving Them On

Officials are limited when it comes to getting homeless people to move on during the day. Business operators can request a stay away order, Price said, but that requires significant paperwork, and police officers often have higher priorities when there is a call.

In regards to where the homeless sleep, moving them out of one area just means they will go to another area — or come back a few days later, the councilwoman said.

Rossi said Belmont Shore is taking one action, eliminating the open concrete trash cans in favor of enclosed cans being purchased by the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Advisory Commission. She added that the only way to move panhandlers from the district is to change the public’s behavior.

“They stay here because people keep giving them money,” Rossi said. “People feel sorry for them, but as long as they’re getting something, they stay… It’s not just us. The problem is everywhere. Some of them need help, but others seem to just live that way.”

Chandler said the city will continue to work toward getting homeless people off the street, into housing and receiving help. She said people should call police anytime they see any criminal activity. Otherwise, a message at 562-570-4550 will receive a return call and an outreach effort.

Harry Saltzgaver is executive editor at Gazette Newspapers. He can be reached at hsalt@gazettes.com.