$1.1 million for Nav Center

AERIAL view of the Huntington Beach Navigation Center (City of Huntington Beach photo).

An allocation of $1.45 million in state money is coming to Huntington Beach, most of it to support the city’s Navigation Center for the homeless.

The funding was sponsored by State Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine) from the State of California Budget Act of 2023.

Of the total, $1.1 million will go towards the Navigation Center, located on Beach Boulevard and north of Talbert Avenue. It provides shelter for up to 174 people and also offers services for employment, drug abuse counseling, mental health help and more.

The remaining $350,000 will go toward paying for the city’s downtown shuttle program, which used electric vehicles to move residents and visitors around the city’s historic core.

“I’m proud that this $1.45 million investment will improve the Navigation Center as well as bolster micro-transit systems that help ease traffic congestion and support local tourism,” said Min.

“This state funding,” said Mayor Tony Strickland, “allows us to address a critical concern within our community and support the great work our police officers and social workers do daily to perform outreach and maintain public safety.”