Case workers who complained about client deaths at Long Beach homeless housing file whistleblower claims
Public records show that at least 14 people living at the former Best Western on Long Beach Boulevard have died in last two years.
Two former case managers in a Long Beach homeless housing program have filed whistleblower claims against the city, alleging they were fired for speaking out about problems with the staffing and conditions at a converted hotel where a number of clients died.
The facility, a former Best Western on Long Beach Boulevard, was turned into transitional housing in 2021. Over the past two years, at least 14 people who were living there died, according to public records. Some deaths were attributed to existing health problems or substance abuse, and some were from unknown or unexplained causes.
D’andre Beckham, who was let go in January, and Danya Dominguez, who was terminated in March, filed damage claims last month seeking an unknown amount of compensation.
Beckham’s claim says he was fired "on the false pretext of time card fraud," but the move was actually an effort to silence him “in retaliation for his repeated complaints to his supervisors and City officials about inadequate staffing, which resulted in risks to client health, safety, and well-being.”
Dominguez alleges in her claim that she was terminated immediately after being featured in news reports about the problems at the facility, “on the false pretext that she appeared to be speaking on behalf of the City.”
Both claims said that although the city contracted with a nonprofit and a temp service to staff the facility (known as PHK, or Project Homekey), it was ultimately responsible for PHK’s operations and for the workers’ firing.
City Homeless Services Bureau Manager Paul Duncan, who is named in the claims, said in an email, “Because the inquiry involves anticipated litigation, the City has no comment at this time.”
Beckham, Dominguez and their attorney, David Saldana, declined to comment while the claims are pending. If the city rejects the claims or does not respond within 45 days of their filing, Beckham and Dominguez can file a lawsuit.
The case managers’ concerns about the deaths of PHK clients came to light earlier this year, when the city began seeking a new operator for the 99-room facility. Orange County-based Illumination Foundation, the nonprofit that had been operating PHK since it opened, notified the city late last year that it would not stay on after its contract ended in February, according to city information.
Public records show Illumination Foundation officials asked the city for more resources to serve PHK clients, including a substance abuse counselor and medical staffer. The city didn’t provide the additional staff, citing cost concerns, but officials have said they would increase the per-bed reimbursement rate and the City Council in March approved more funding for PHK in their contract with a new operator.
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