If you wish to support the homeless in Redondo Beach, several charitable organizations offer assistance programs for this population. These organizations focus on both immediate needs—such as food and clothing—and long-term stability, providing housing and legal assistance. Various charitable entities—including Project NEEDS, Family Promise of the South Bay, MA Center LA, and the local Salvation Army food distribution center—have stepped forward to provide support to the homeless population in Redondo Beach.
St. Andrew’s Redondo Beach
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Redondo Beach provides comprehensive support to individuals experiencing homelessness through its FAITH Ministry and Project Joy, focusing on both immediate basic needs and long-term housing solutions. Its services for the homeless include:
- Grab-and-Go Lunch Program: Free lunches are distributed every Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
- Project Joy: Provides essential items, including canned food, clothing, and hygiene kits.
- Emergency Services: Twice a week, the church offers groceries, clothing, and personal care items to community members in need.
Housing and Stability Services (FAITH Ministry)
The FAITH Ministry operates a dedicated intake desk during the Tuesday and Thursday lunch programs to assist individuals in transitioning out of homelessness.
Mailing Address Service: To eliminate barriers to employment and documentation, the church allows homeless individuals to use its address to receive official mail.
Intake and Referrals: Staff conduct interviews to determine specific needs and provide direct referrals to key regional partners—such as PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and Harbor Interfaith Services—for placement in permanent housing.
Welcome Home Kits: For those who successfully transition into housing, the church provides a kit of essential household items (kitchenware, towels, toiletries) to help them furnish their new home.
Address: 301 Avenue D, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Phone: (310) 540-5252
Project: NEEDS (St. Paul’s United Methodist Church)
Project NEEDS is a community-supported ministry at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach that has provided food and essential supplies to homeless individuals and low-income populations for over 30 years. Its primary homeless assistance services include:
- Weekly Hot Meals: A free, home-cooked meal is served every Tuesday starting at 5:15 p.m. (service generally ends around 7:30 p.m.).
- Food Pantry: Groceries—including items from the L.A. Regional Food Bank—are distributed on the first and third Thursdays of each month, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Clothing & Hygiene: Clothing, toiletries, hygiene kits, and first aid supplies are distributed during meal and pantry hours, subject to availability.
- Baby Supplies: When available, the program provides diapers and baby food to families with young children.
- Specialty Items: Depending on donations, they may also distribute sleeping bags, hats, gloves, and pet food.
Address: 2600 Nelson Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Phone: (310) 370-4319
The Salvation Army – Redondo Beach Corps
The Salvation Army – Redondo Beach Corps provides vital resources for homeless individuals and low-income persons, focusing primarily on hunger relief, emergency vouchers, and referrals to help achieve stability. Their main programs and services for people experiencing homelessness include:
Food Pantry: Distributes approximately 12,000 grocery baskets per year, including fresh produce and canned goods.
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Immediate Assistance Vouchers: Provides clothing vouchers for individuals in need of clean attire or professional clothing for job interviews.
Emergency Financial Aid: Offers assistance with rent and utility payments to help individuals avoid falling deeper into homelessness.
Meals on Wheels: Delivers nutritious meals Monday through Friday, providing targeted support to seniors and individuals with limited mobility.
Direct Community Outreach: Regularly distributes snacks, hygiene products, and personal grooming kits directly to the local homeless community.
The Redondo Beach Corps acts as a coordination hub for broader support systems:
Referrals to Housing Programs: Connects individuals with emergency shelters and long-term transitional housing programs, such as the Salvation Army Bell Shelter.
Case Management: Provides access to specialized staff who offer assistance with budgeting, job readiness, and life skills training.
Beach Cities Homeless Court
The Beach Cities Homeless Court (often referred to as the Housing Initiative Court) is a restorative justice program designed to clear the criminal records of homeless individuals in exchange for their engagement with social services and placement in housing.
Launched in Redondo Beach in 2020 as the first outdoor court of its kind in Los Angeles County, this program significantly reduces barriers to accessing aid by bringing the justice system directly to the community.
- Case Dismissal: Participants with non-violent misdemeanors or municipal code violations (such as public intoxication or sleeping in public spaces) can have their charges dismissed and their records cleared upon “graduating” from the program.
- Mandatory Support Services: To graduate, participants must actively engage in programs ordered by the judge and tailored to their specific needs, including mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and job training.
- Pathway to Housing: The ultimate goal is to help participants transition from “survival mode” on the streets to permanent housing.
- Accessibility: By holding sessions outdoors—often near local churches that provide free meals—the court goes to where people already gather, thereby making it easier for them to attend.
Rather than a traditional courtroom setting, participants appear monthly before a judge to report on their progress. If they fail to comply with their assigned services, they could face their original legal sentence; however, the program primarily employs a “high-incentive” approach, prioritizing treatment over punishment.
Who Qualifies: Individuals aged 18 or older who are experiencing homelessness (or are at risk of losing their housing) and who have non-violent cases that meet the eligibility criteria within Los Angeles County. For more information or to inquire about upcoming court dates, you may contact the Redondo Beach City Attorney’s Office at (310) 318-0655.
The Moonstone (Century Housing)
Managed by Century Housing, The Moonstone is a Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) community located in Redondo Beach that offers 20 studio apartments for individuals transitioning out of chronic homelessness. Converted from the former Pacific Inn Motel through California’s Project Homekey program, this complex adopts a “Housing First” approach, in which residents receive private units complemented by intensive on-site support services.
The facility employs a “whatever it takes” approach to help residents maintain housing stability and improve their health.
- Intensive Case Management (ICMS): Provided by the Century Oasis Residential Services team, these services include weekly check-ins, service planning, and crisis management.
- Health and Wellness Support: On-site staff facilitate connections to medical, mental health, and substance use disorder services.
- Life Skills and Vocational Training: Residents have access to independent living skills development and vocational assistance to foster their long-term autonomy.
- Legal and Benefits Assistance: Staff assist residents in applying for benefits for which they are eligible and provide resources for legal matters or transportation needs.
Program Eligibility
- Target Population: Primarily serves individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, granting specific preference to those with ties to the Redondo Beach and South Bay communities.
- Affordability: Through a partnership with the Redondo Beach Housing Authority, residents utilize project-based housing vouchers to ensure they pay no more than 30% of their income toward rent.
- Continuum of Care: “The Moonstone” is designed to serve as a permanent placement for individuals transitioning from the Redondo Beach Pallet Shelter or the Homeless Court.
Redondo Beach Pallet Shelter
The Redondo Beach Pallet Shelter is a transitional housing facility that serves as a critical “bridge” for homeless individuals moving from life on the streets to permanent housing. Administered by Harbor Interfaith Services, the site provides immediate safety and dignity while residents work toward their long-term stability goals.
The village consists of individual units ranging from 64 to 70 square feet, designed to facilitate rapid stabilization.
- Secure Living Environment: Each unit features a lockable door, heating, air conditioning, and electrical outlets, allowing residents to keep their personal belongings safe.
- On-Site Amenities: The community includes shared portable showers, restrooms, and outdoor dining areas.
- Essential Needs: Residents receive three meals a day and 24/7 on-site security to ensure a stable environment.
- Dignified Policies: Unlike many traditional shelters, the Pallet unit village is designed to be inclusive; it often allows couples to stay together and welcomes pets.
Harbor Interfaith Services
Harbor Interfaith Services (HIS) is the lead agency for homeless services in the South Bay region (Service Planning Area 8), offering a broad spectrum of assistance ranging from emergency food aid to placement in permanent housing. Headquartered in San Pedro, they manage critical access points for the region’s Coordinated Entry System (CES), which streamlines the process of securing housing for individuals, families, and youth. HIS offers various levels of housing assistance, depending on the specific needs of the household.
- Family Shelter: An emergency shelter with a 90-day stay limit, designed for homeless families. Residents receive case management services and are required to save 50% of any income they earn to put toward their future permanent housing.
- Transitional Housing (A.L.L. Program): Offers 12 to 18 months of independent living in a 24-unit apartment complex designed for families. This program focuses on educational and professional goals while providing housing stability.
- Individual and Youth Shelter: Manages shelters for single adults and transitional-aged youth (ages 18 to 24). Access is typically managed through a CES assessment. Housing Bridge (Pallet Shelters): Manages rapid stabilization centers, including the Redondo Beach Pallet Shelter, which provides immediate transitional housing and comprehensive support services.
For those seeking permanent housing, HIS conducts assessments using the VI-SPDAT tool to prioritize the most vulnerable individuals and assist them in becoming “document-ready” (by obtaining identification and proof of income).
Individuals and Youth: Call (424) 276-3602.
Families: Call (310) 831-0589.
Walk-in Center: The CES Access Point for individuals and youth is located at 599 West 9th Street, San Pedro.
Family Promise of Los Angeles (formerly Family Promise of the South Bay)
Family Promise of Los Angeles (formerly Family Promise of the South Bay) is a non-profit organization with a trauma-informed approach, dedicated to helping families with children overcome homelessness. By partnering with local congregations and utilizing a community-based model, they offer a comprehensive range of services that includes prevention, emergency shelter, and long-term stabilization.
Their core homelessness assistance programs and services include:
- Emergency Shelter Program: Provides eligible families with safe, private rooms for a period of up to one year. Families share common areas—such as kitchens and living rooms—while receiving meals and intensive support.
- Homelessness Prevention and Diversion: Offers rental assistance, utility support, and landlord mediation to prevent families from losing their housing in the first place.
- Stabilization and Follow-Up (After-Care): Provides up to two years of post-program support, including life skills training (financial literacy, parenting), vocational training, and mentorship to ensure families maintain their housing.
- Children and Youth Program (CYP): Offers specialized mentorship and activities designed specifically for children experiencing the trauma of housing instability. CalAIM Community Supports: As a contracted provider for Health Net members, they offer housing transition guidance, rental maintenance services, and assistance with housing deposits.
Requirements: Parents must be willing to obtain employment, and all children must be enrolled in school or daycare. The program maintains a strict drug- and alcohol-free policy.
Due to high demand, there is often a waiting list for housing (historically 12 to 18 months). Currently, their shelter program may be at maximum capacity for new referrals; families are encouraged to check their “Resource Request” page for updates or to call 211 for immediate needs.
Exodus Recovery
Exodus Recovery offers intensive mental health services and housing stabilization support. Their Redondo Beach Outpatient Program is a key partner in the city’s efforts to assist its most vulnerable homeless residents.
Full Service Partnership (FSP): An intensive program based on the “whatever it takes” philosophy for adults with serious mental illnesses who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. It provides 24/7 crisis response, medication support, and psychiatric care.
Housing Assistance: Staff assist clients with locating and retaining housing, as well as obtaining the benefits necessary to maintain a home.
Wellness Center: Offers individual and group therapy, life skills development, and vocational support to help clients reintegrate into the community.
Services are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. While many clients are referred through the Department of Mental Health, individuals may also walk in directly without an appointment to receive an assessment.
Summary
If you need support for the homeless in Redondo Beach, some of the most impactful charitable organizations include Project NEEDS, Family Promise of the South Bay, MA Center LA, and the local Salvation Army food distribution center. These organizations provide meals, shelter, case management, and long-term housing support to individuals and families in need.
