By Paige Pelonis, Art from Ashes Editor
A Long Beach City memo that came out last week reminds me that words and actions don’t always align. The memo follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a long-standing ruling to protect individual human rights to sleep and live outdoors when adequate shelter is not available. After the court decision in June, Governor Newsom has put out more than one statement directing local governments to address encampments swiftly in the wake of the court decision. This memo I’m talking about is Long Beach’s response to these recent events.
Compassion is named in the memo as central to the City’s approach to “resolving” encampments where neighbors without housing are living, and citations, sweeps, and police intervention are described as the means for enforcing “encampment resolution.”
I personally was under the impression and extremely hopeful that the memo would be intended to reassure those of us who are concerned about the City’s existing “anti-camping” ordinance that homeless services would continue to be conducted with a human-first approach. But it reads like it’s intended to reassure the concerns of those in our community who want to see homeless encampments just swept away as quickly as possible and to stop people from sleeping and living in public spaces, despite the fact that the truth is: our city does not have adequate shelter options for every single human without housing who calls Long Beach home.
The City’s anti-camping ordinance is a stark example of policy lacking empathy. By criminalizing the act of simply existing without shelter, this ordinance overlooks the complex realities faced by people without housing. Rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness — like lack of affordable housing, mental health care, and economic instability — it shifts the problem out of sight without offering real solutions. This approach fails to see the humanity in those living on the streets and ignores the trauma and systemic barriers that keep them there. Instead of offering compassion, support, and opportunities for real change, the ordinance sends the message that people without housing are a nuisance rather than members of our community deserving of dignity and respect. It’s a policy that punishes rather than helps, and in doing so, it misses the chance to uplift those who need it most.
And in my opinion and quite frankly, the recent memo defends the City’s right to take this anti-camping approach. The words compassion and human-first seem like that are just being used in an attempt to keep people like me hopeful and under the false impression that people I care about who are living on the streets of my hometown won’t just be swept away. But I don’t know if I can continue to hold onto this kind of hope when it feels like we’ve been promised one thing and handed something else entirely one too many times.
The Urgent Need for Empathy Toward Neighbors Without Housing in Long Beach
At CityHeART, we know that empathy isn’t just a soft sentiment — it’s an essential tool in driving real change. We are committed to recognizing the humanity in every person experiencing housing insecurity or lacking housing, because real solutions start with understanding their unique stories and challenges. We don’t just see individuals without housing; we see neighbors who deserve dignity and the chance to rebuild their lives.
One of my greatest joys in the work we do at CityHeART is in the stories swapped and shared throughout the day between our volunteers and our guests. Empathy is about truly getting to know our neighbors without housing, not just as individuals facing hardship, but as people with dreams, aspirations, and stories that deserve to be heard. It means genuinely caring enough to listen, to acknowledge and validate their lived experiences, and to honor the essence of who they are beyond their current circumstances.
Empathy invites us to see them as more than their situation, to understand their personal hopes and ambitions—their desire to create, to connect, to contribute to the world in meaningful ways. It’s about recognizing that their dreams extend far beyond simply securing housing; they are about reclaiming their identity, pursuing passions, and living a life of purpose and fulfillment. And the thing about empathy is, you really can’t fake it.
Shattering Stereotypes and Recognizing the Human Impact
Homelessness in Long Beach isn’t a monolithic issue. Each person facing it has been impacted by economic instability, mental health challenges, broken systems, or a combination of these factors. It’s easy to stereotype or judge from a distance, but when you look closer, you realize that these are people who’ve been dealt a tough hand. They’re not a problem to be managed—they’re part of our community.
Empathy is what drives us to engage with the people we serve. We refuse to accept narratives that blame or dehumanize them. Instead, we choose to listen, learn, and support. By connecting with our neighbors in need, we move past stigma and get to the heart of what it takes to help—whether that’s providing health and wellness services, helping reconnect with family, or offering resources that allow someone to regain stability.
Collective Responsibility: A Community-Wide Effort
We know that Long Beach prides itself on being a tight-knit community. But when our most vulnerable neighbors are struggling, the real test of that community spirit is how we respond. Our work at CityHeART shows that empathy, when put into action, can lead to transformative change. But we can’t do it alone. Tackling homelessness takes a unified effort—from residents, local businesses, community organizations, and city leaders alike.
Empathy means stepping up. We’ve seen the power of collective action through the volunteers who join us, the advocates who amplify the cause, and the supporters who keep our programs running. But we need more people to get involved. It’s time to ask ourselves: What can we each do to ensure that those living without housing are treated as the valuable members of our community that they are?
Let Empathy Drive Policy, Not Just Charity
Empathy isn’t just about one-on-one interactions; it’s also about the policies we support. When we advocate for compassionate and informed policy decisions, we’re pushing for the changes that can make a lasting impact. Affordable housing, mental health care, and addiction treatment aren’t just “nice to have” — they’re vital for a functioning community. CityHeART is committed to driving these conversations and holding our leaders accountable, but it’s not enough for us alone to push for change.
We need everyone to recognize that the solutions start with understanding and prioritizing the needs of those without housing. We must demand policies that address the root causes of homelessness and push for systemic change that offers real paths out of it.
Take Action: Join Us in Making a Difference
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t offer you a chance to take any sort of actionable step to channel your empathy into something tangible, something impactful. Every non-profit in town needs your help, and that includes us. We need more empathetic, creative people like you to join our mission of wholeheARTedly loving our city and telling its stories in any way that you are able. Volunteer, donate, share our mission with your loved ones — do it all if you can. We’re counting on you.
The time for passive concern is over.