U.S.VETS continues efforts to house and provide support services to Veterans living in the “Veterans Row” encampment on San Vicente Boulevard.
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The increased outreach to Veterans experiencing homelessness comes as the Los Angeles County Sheriff clears out homeless encampments across Los Angeles.
Since the announcement by LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva of his intention to clear out the “Veterans Row” homeless encampment in Brentwood this fall, U.S.VETS has increased its ongoing outreach to the Veterans just outside the West Los Angeles VA Campus.
Outreach workers, some who are formerly homeless Veterans, have been engaging with these Veterans living on San Vicente Boulevard since the encampment first appeared in 2015. For more than a year, U.S.VETS has doubled its outreach efforts to help Veterans not only secure housing but provide the resources needed to ensure veterans get back on track, not just off the streets.
When the Sheriff announced the planned abatement of “Veterans Row,” U.S.VETS was tasked with housing at least ten of the Veterans residing in the encampment. Since that directive, U.S.VETS has housed 13 Veterans and will continue that mission with increased outreach until and after “Veterans Row” is abated by the LA County Sheriff.
“Nearly 4,000 Veterans are currently experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles, a situation no Veteran should ever be in,” said Jesse Henderson, Outreach Coordinator for U.S.VETS. “As the LA County Sheriff continues to clear out encampments across the area, we are making every effort possible to provide not only a safe home for our Veterans but also a community where they will thrive.”
Some Veterans who were previously living on “Veterans Row” are now in supportive housing at U.S.VETS’ Inglewood site. There, in addition to a safe home, veterans receive wrap-around supportive services including healthcare, mental health support, career services and addiction treatment. Programming focuses directly on preventing Veterans from becoming homeless again.
Additionally, U.S.VETS has placed Veterans from “Veterans Row” into alternative temporary housing options.
“The West LA VA Campus is a sacred place for many of our Veterans,” said Stephen Peck, President & CEO of U.S.VETS. “We understand the deep connection Veterans have to the campus and are working hard to offer them safe housing options in our communities across Southern California. However, we’ll soon be able to honor the legacy of the West LA VA Campus by providing Veterans a home and community on that land which was promised to them decades ago.”
U.S.VETS is part of The Veterans Collective, comprised of long-standing Los Angeles based organizations including Century Housing and Thomas Safran & Associates. The Veterans Collective was chosen by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and operate more than 1,600 supportive housing units and support services on the West LA VA North Campus. Upon completion of the West Los Angeles VA redevelopment, more than 3,000 currently homeless Veterans and their families will be living in new housing units on the West LA VA North Campus supported by services that promote recovery, wellness, career and community connection to empower residents to create a more hopeful future.
About U.S.VETS:
U.S.VETS is the largest non-profit organization with boots on the ground to combat America’s veteran homeless crisis head-on. Their comprehensive approach provides housing, counseling, career, and supportive services to help our veterans rebuild and thrive. Today in the United States nearly 38,000 veterans experience homelessness, accounting for approximately 9% of all homeless adults. With 32 sites across 11 regional locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Texas, and Washington D.C., U.S.VETS is uniquely positioned to offer temporary and permanent housing solutions and comprehensive services to veterans and their families nationwide. To learn more about U.S.VETS visit usvets.org.
About the Veterans Collective:
The Veterans Collective is a partnership between U.S.VETS, Century Housing, and Thomas Safran & Associates to transform the West Los Angeles VA North Campus into the largest supportive housing community in the nation for homeless and at-risk veterans, and their families. The Collective was chosen by the U.S. Veterans Administration in late 2018 to develop 1,600+ units of supportive housing, services, and a thriving community on the West LA VA North Campus.
