VA and Community Partners Release West Los Angeles Homeless Plan

On Jan. 28, 2015, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert A. McDonald and attorneys representing homeless veterans in Los Angeles announced a historic agreement that dedicates the West Los Angeles VA campus to serving veterans in need. The agreement is an important step forward in carrying out President Obama’s commitment that no veteran should live on the streets, or forego available medical and psychological services.

On Feb. 13, pursuant to this agreement, VA released its written plan to help end veteran homeless in Greater Los Angeles. The plan focuses on serving veterans, particularly homeless veterans, women veterans, aging veterans and veterans that are severely disabled. VA’s efforts will be done in coordination with pertinent Federal, State, and local authorities; legislators; Veteran Service Organizations; Faith Based organizations; community partners; charitable organizations; and veterans. As part of this Plan, VA is committed to utilizing the West Los Angeles Medical Center in a more veteran-centric manner going forward.

“This plan demonstrates what can be accomplished for our nation’s veterans when we come together as a community – everyone working together toward the higher goal,” said Secretary McDonald.  “This is an important first step toward ending veteran homelessness in Greater LA and a model of what we will do across the country.”

See the plan: http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Veterans-Homelessness-Strategy-and-Action-Plan.pdf.

For more on veteran homelessness in Los Angeles and the plan for the West L.A. VAMC campus:

• See U.S. VETS President and CEO Steve Peck’s op-ed, Ending Vet Homelessness in LA, Is the End in Sight?
• Read the L.A. Times article on the plan, “VA details plan to eliminate veterans’ homelessness.”