Homelessness is a leading issue for California veterans, such as the U.S. Air Force veteran pictured here from San Francisco. Organizations like Gold Coast Veterans Foundation are working hard to alleviate this crisis. (Photo: Evan Reader, Greatest Paka Photography)
Ventura County-based Gold Coast Veterans Foundation announced on Dec. 11 that former Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully would be taking over as the voice of their organization, which is dedicated to ending veterans homelessness in California.
Scully, who recently retired after a 67-year career, is also a U.S. Navy veteran. Volunteering his time, Scully is now recording radio PSAs and other works for the organization.
Currently, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation’s chief objective is to get its Veterans Village project off the ground. The VSO says the project will, rather than find housing for homeless veterans in the region, literally build affordable units from the ground up. Additionally, the campus will provide “supportive services” for veterans in need.
Gold Coast Veterans Foundation says the project will be a “viable, cost-effective, sustainable model of care for veterans.”
Since 2019, the VSO has rescued 85 veterans at its existing service center, Veterans Connection, which provides mobile outreach, financial coaching, and more to struggling veterans.
California Veterans Homelessness
Homelessness is one of the biggest issues affecting California veterans as a whole. In Los Angeles alone, estimates suggest there are upwards of 4,000 veterans living on the street. San Francisco, Sacramento, and many other California cities also have sizeable populations of homeless veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs lists veterans homelessness as a priority and has recently improved its efforts to mitigate the crisis, including raising rent grants for veterans living in high-cost rental markets as well as announcing that it plans to house over 500 veterans living in Los Angeles by Dec. 31, 2021.
Vin Scully (Photo: Dodger Insider)
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
