Long Beach is in the midst of a deepening housing crisis that is displacing longtime residents, eroding community stability, and accelerating racial and economic inequities. Rents are rising far faster than incomes. Homeownership is out of reach for most working families, for recent graduates and for young professionals. Tenant protections remain fragmented and under enforced. Meanwhile, corporate landlords and speculative investors continue to consolidate control over the city’s housing stock, driving displacement, raising rents, and converting long-term homes into profit-generating assets.
These pressures are intensifying in the lead-up to global events such as the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics—where Long Beach is set to host several events—which is expected to further strain the region’s housing market. In cities that have hosted large-scale events, short-term rental conversions have surged, reducing the availability of long-term housing and fueling displacement in low-income communities.
This report calls for a new civic strategy anchored in two pillars: (1) protecting tenants now, and (2) building a permanently affordable, non-speculative housing ecosystem for the future. Drawing on best practices from across California and the nation, it outlines bold yet practical steps Long Beach can take to stabilize neighborhoods, curb displacement, and invest in a new generation of social housing alternatives. We call for action through the implementation of the below policies, which are detailed in the report.