Newport Beach transitioned its homeless shelter services from Costa Mesa to Huntington Beach – losing access to 15 shelter beds in the process.

It comes as Newport Beach officials say they’ve seen a dramatic decline in people sleeping on the streets as the most recent count found eight homeless people in the city – which officials say stems from an overhauled anti-camping ordinance.

Newport City Council members approved a one-year agreement with the Huntington Beach Navigation Center to provide 10 exclusive beds for homeless people in Newport Beach and 20 hours of social services support work per week. 

Councilmember Noah Blum said that the relationship with Huntington is the next step in addressing Newport Beach’s homeless community. 

“The relationship we have with Huntington, especially right now, has been amazing. They’ve stepped up in a way that – and hopefully [Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens] is not listening to our meeting right now – that Costa Mesa never could and we are looking forward to working with them,” Blum said at the June 23 meeting. 

Irvine recently partnered with the Costa Mesa Bridge House in March. The agreement allows Irvine to buy beds as available for $163 per bed, per night and also expired on June 30, 2026. 

[Read: Irvine Partners with Costa Mesa for Homeless Shelter Beds]

During the meeting, Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Tara Finnigan said the city has greatly appreciated its partnership with Costa Mesa over the years. 

“It has been almost 6 years with the bridge shelter, and we have enjoyed working with their staff and are very grateful that they agreed to partner with Newport Beach,” Finnigan said. 

In December 2020, Newport Beach partnered with Costa Mesa to share the cost of developing and operating the Costa Mesa Bridge Center, offering 25 exclusive beds for Newport Beach until June 30, 2026, according to the staff report.

However, Newport Beach Officials reduced the city’s exclusive access to the Bridge Shelter’s beds from 25 to 20 in December 2025. 

“Since that time, the city has experienced a significant reduction in its homeless population, resulting in fewer shelter beds being occupied,” the staff report reads. 

Councilmember Robyn Grant said that Newport Beach has seen a 90% drop in people sleeping on the streets.

According to the staff report, the overhauled anti-camping ordinance helped reduce the local homeless population. 

The Point in Time Count found eight unsheltered people in Newport Beach earlier this year, according to the staff report. 

Newport Beach’s anti-camping ordinance prohibits a person from setting up a tent on public property and lodging in a public restroom. It also prohibits sleeping, laying down or sitting on a public bench, bike rack or storing personal property that interfere with public access. 

“Since its adoption, the city has experienced a marked reduction in street-level homelessness by getting service-resistance individuals that were experiencing homelessness to agree to accept services and begin the process of being housed,” the agenda reads. 

According to the staff report, seven of the 10 exclusive beds for the city at the Huntington Beach Navigation Center are reserved for males and the rest are for females. 

On top of the 20 hours per week of social services, people will also get assistance in finding housing.

Grant said that the reduction in the amount of exclusive beds for Newport Beach is the next step. 

“Now we have a new opportunity to sort of right-size our shelter,” Grant said. “We’ve had less need in the shelter due to the reduction of homelessness in our community.”

The 10 beds and social services are expected to cost Newport Beach $44,100 per month, totaling $529,200 annually. 

During the meeting, Finnigan said there is also a one-time cost of $9,000 to help convert an older vehicle that Huntington Beach has for the part-time social worker to use while on duty for Newport Beach. 

According to the staff report, the adopted 2026-27 budget includes $1,698,282 for the costs of the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter, so the agreement will reduce the city’s overall program costs by approximately $1.2 million. 

Newport Beach is also terminating its agreement with their current social services provider, People Assisting the Homeless, because those services would be provided part-time at the Huntington Beach shelter – another cost reduction.

Additionally, the per bed, per night rate at Huntington Beach Navigation Center is $132 compared to the Bridge Shelter’s rate of $163. 

“[It’s] really good planning and very thoughtful execution and stewardship of our taxpayer dollars as well as assisting a needy community in our midst,” Grant said. 

During the meeting, Grant also added that the money saved can be used to further the city’s goals in assisting homelessness in other ways such as permanent supportive housing. 

The city will have the option to renew the agreement for two additional one-year terms, according to the staff report. 

The Huntington Beach City Council approved the partnership with Newport Beach at their June 16, 2026 meeting. 

Blum, the Newport Beach councilman, said it’s a step in the right direction.

“As we look at this from a holistic perspective, we only want it to get better, and this is the next step to getting it better.”