VA Secretary Promises to Eliminate LA’s ‘Veterans Row’ Homeless Encampment by November 1
Los Angeles County is home to the most veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States. On October 20, 2021, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough pledged to place all veterans experiencing homeless currently residing in Los Angeles’ “veterans row” into temporary housing by November 1, 2021. The VA designated a social worker and an employee who specializes in homelessness resources to connect with the veterans and help initiate their transition to temporary housing.
During the last five years, the VA has been developing a plan to construct 1,200 subsidized apartments on the campus of the West Los Angeles VA hospital for veterans experiencing homeless. Only 54 units have been completed as of June. A new draft of the plan that announces 800 units are projected to be under construction at the campus by 2023 was posted to the Federal Register on October 18. Citizens have until December 17 to offer feedback on the new plan. View the complete plan at westladraftmasterplan.org.