Noteboom The Law Firm

Los Angeles VA Gets $20 Million for Homeless Veterans

July 13, 2010 - Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki's vision of eliminating homelessness among veterans is one step closer to being fulfilled. The Federal VA green lit $20 million to be used in Los Angeles to assist homeless veterans. The money will be used to convert a building at the LA VA campus into a therapeutic housing for chronically homeless veterans.

These plans have been in the works for a while. The announcement came last week through U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D. - Beverly Hills), and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Around 6,500 veterans are homeless in LA County every night. Conversion of these buildings should ease that burden to some extent.

When the plan to convert the buildings was formed, the VA became embroiled in a protracted series of events attempting to secure funding. VA Sec. Shinseki finally granted the $20 million in funding necessary for the renovation. Seismic work itself will eat up approximately $10 million of that amount. The remaining half will be used for the actual conversion and renovation of the building. It will be transformed not only into living quarters, but also social service facilities.

The renovated building will house approximately 70 to 90 chronically homeless veterans. The building will do more than just house veterans, it will also include:

• Medical care;
• Mental health treatment;
• Other essential services.

Yaroslavsky believes this monetary grant is the "first meaningful commitment by the VA to house chronically homeless veterans." Building 209 is the building to be renovated and the sooner renovations begin the better.