Palmdale’s Veteran of the Year, Tony Tortolano, is one of six Veterans who are receiving keys to a new home in the Veterans Enriched Neighborhood (Photo: Dennis Anderson / Antelope Valley Press)
Six Veterans and their families will receive keys to new homes in the Veterans Enriched Neighborhood in Palmdale, as reported by the Antelope Valley Press. These Veterans, although not necessarily homeless at present, have experienced homelessness in the past, making this development particularly meaningful.
On Saturday, August 10, six Veterans will move into zero-lot line, custom homes designed to accommodate PTSD triggers and accessibility needs. The project, supported by the City of Palmdale and CalVet, involves the construction of 56 Veteran-owned homes on 10 acres, with development ongoing since 2017.
Veteran homelessness is a persistent issue in the U.S., often stemming from the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. This development, along with similar projects in Sylmar, Santa Clarita, and North Hollywood, was spearheaded by Homes4Families CEO Donna Deutchman, who is retiring after years of dedicated service. The effort follows a model similar to Habitat for Humanity, with community involvement in terms of both labor and financial contributions.
High Desert Medical Group, Boeing Co., PepsiCo, and retired AV Chevy’s Lou Gonzales have been key contributors, along with Veteran service organizations such as Antelope Valley Vets4Veterans and Coffee4Vets. The park area within the neighborhood honors Vietnam Veteran Tom Hilzendeger and Navy Veteran Jack Woolbert, founding presidents of Vets4Veterans. Hilzendeger aspired to bring positive change to both the Veterans of today and the Veterans of his own wartime generation. In 2023, after the passing of Hilzendeger and Woolbert, Vets4Veterans was named California Nonprofit of the year.
James Mumma, a Marine Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, who spent five years homeless before receiving support from various organizations and now works for the Veterans Peer Access Network, states that helping homeless Veterans requires a collective effort, reflecting the project’s communal spirit.
This milestone, though addressing only a fraction of the thousands of homeless Veterans in Los Angeles County and nationwide, symbolizes progress. Each home provided to a Veteran represents a step toward reducing Veteran homelessness, one individual or family at a time.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.