The Veterans Collective

In response to a federal judge’s ruling regarding housing for disabled and homeless Veterans on the West Los Angeles campus, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, The Veterans Collective is pleased to see that Judge David O. Carter appears ready to take on the institutional barriers that have slowed the delivery of housing for thousands of homeless and at-risk Veterans and families on the West LA VA Campus. His order clearly identifies how restrictions attached to federal, state, and local funding make critically needed supportive and affordable housing slow to develop, and inaccessible to those who need it most. While we are proud that more than 500 new housing units will be available for homeless Veterans on campus by next year, we share the Judge's belief that the timeline is far too slow. We continue to do our part to free this project from many public restrictions, including securing more than $100 million in charitable contributions through our Veterans Promise Campaign and working with the VA, which has allocated more than $350 million in unrestricted VA PACT Act funding to advance development. But that is not enough. To deliver the permanent supportive housing that LA Veterans deserve, we call on Congress to enact Representative Brad Sherman's “Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA)”, which will eliminate Veteran disability income from the HUD income calculation and ensure that Veterans most in need of housing at the VA are eligible for HUD-VASH and other programs at the West LA VA. We are working to advance this and other legislation at the federal, state and local levels to ensure that LA Veterans who need housing most can receive it at the West LA VA. We are grateful to our extensive network of supporters working alongside us to make this transformation possible and for maintaining faith in our efforts.

We are grateful to Harbor Freight Tools for Schools and the teacher volunteers who revitalized the on-site service center this week! Upgrades to the temporary center, including new picnic tables and shade structures, will provide a more welcoming atmosphere for Veteran residents and community members at the West LA VA North Campus.

The Veterans Collective is pleased to share the 2024 Community Impact Report for the West LA VA North Campus, highlighting our progress in building the largest permanent #supportivehousing community for #Veterans in the country. We reached a milestone with more than half the 1,200 homes proposed in the master plan having been completed or under construction. We are grateful to our supporters working alongside us to make this transformation possible. Our nation’s heroes deserve to prosper and live in dignity. Read the 2024 Community Impact Report: https://bit.ly/4bmIDRy U.S.VETS Century Housing Thomas Safran & Associates

We are grateful for Congressman Brad Sherman's unwavering support of The Veterans Collective and our nation's heroes who will live and benefit from the community we're creating at the West LA VA North Campus. Congressman Sherman is advancing legislation that would ensure service-related disability benefits do not count as income, which could disqualify servicemembers from receiving Veterans housing vouchers. It is imperative that vulnerable Veterans can access permanent supportive housing and receive the services, stability, and opportunity for a more hopeful future they deserve. Learn more about the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA): https://lnkd.in/gPK_vjkx

Our partners at Power2Workers are hosting a Veteran Construction Job Fair tomorrow! Join us Friday, June 21st from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the West LA VA North Campus at the grey trailer next to Building 210 on Bonsall and Patton. Veteran workers are prioritized for the construction of housing at the West LA VA. To register or ask questions, contact Cory Hyde at Cory@Power2Workers.org or (323) 364-3274.

#EventAlert: We're hosting The Bunker Social every Monday from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at the Building 306 patio on the West LA VA North Campus. #Veterans, join and jam with us at this weekly peer hangout! Resources will be available.

Last week, we celebrated the groundbreaking of Buildings 158 and 210 at the West LA VA North Campus with our partners U.S.VETS, Century Housing, and Thomas Safran & Associates. These developments will provide 87 permanent supportive homes for previously unhoused Veterans. We have now surpassed the halfway point of delivering 1,200+ homes at the West LA VA North Campus. We are grateful to everyone who joined us for this momentuous occassion and to those who are helping us realize our goal of creating the nation's largest #supportivehousing community for #Veterans. Once completed, the North Campus will span 80+ acres and offer critical mental health counseling, career programs, and other services to Veterans and their families, both on-site and in the surrounding community—honoring the land's original 1887 deed as an Old Soldiers' Home, the predecessor to the modern-day VA. Special thanks to our speakers, supporters, and advocates who joined our ceremony, including: U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, Fiona Ma, Lindsey Sin, Margaret Kabat, Gustavo Velasquez, Emilio Salas PHM CME, Cécile Chalifour, Babs Ludikhuize, Bradley Blakeman, James DeLozier, Hao Li, Francisco Uribe, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Los Angeles County Development Authority, California Department of Veterans Affairs, California Housing Finance Agency, California Department of Housing & Community Development, Cedars-Sinai, CREA Real Estate, USAA, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citi, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Joe & Farima Czyzyk, City National Bank, Hudson Pacific Properties, Hal & Sharon Lampert, Rodan Family Foundation, St. John’s Health Center Foundation, The Getty Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, United Talent Agency 📸: Juan Alaniz

On #MemorialDay, The Veterans Collective honors the brave servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Through our mission at The Veterans Collective, we strive to uplift and transform the lives of #Veterans by providing housing, support, and resources. Learn more at wlavc.org.

#EventAlert: Veterans, join our Memorial Day BBQ! The Veterans Collective and U.S.VETS will be at the Women Veterans Memorial Rose Garden on Monday, May 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. We hope to see you there! #Veterans #ServingThoseWhoServed

The Veterans Collective and our partner U.S.VETS brought together women #Veterans living on the West LA VA campus for an ice cream and lemonade social last week. Thank you to those who joined us!