The Weingart Center, located in downtown Los Angeles, has 40 beds designated for Veterans. (Photo: Swinerton)

Los Angeles County has received thousands of federal rental vouchers intended to house homeless Veterans, but many remain unused. According to the LA Times, the county has had enough subsidies to eliminate Veteran homelessness, yet more than 3,000 Veterans are still without permanent housing.

Over the past decade, local housing agencies were issued nearly 4,500 vouchers through the federal HUD-VASH program. About 59 percent of them have been leased, a rate below the national average. Officials and advocates point to a complicated process that requires Veterans to work with multiple agencies, complete extensive paperwork, and wait for referrals that can take weeks.

The VA is responsible for identifying qualified Veterans and referring them to housing authorities. Records reviewed by the LA Times show that many referrals do not result in leases. Some Veterans withdraw after facing repeated requests for documentation or delays that extend the process, while others struggle with the additional requirements from landlords once they are approved.

Unfilled vouchers also affect housing providers. A senior housing complex in East Los Angeles reported financial losses after 14 Veteran-reserved units sat vacant for an entire year. Developers told the LA Times that long vacancies can put financing tied to occupancy at risk and create further strain on community housing programs.

Securing housing is only part of the challenge. County data shows that for every three leases signed, two are eventually terminated. Reasons include health-related deaths, voluntary departures, or evictions tied to paperwork requirements. Advocates have said that more consistent follow-up from case managers could help reduce turnover and allow more Veterans to remain stably housed.

Los Angeles leaders have attempted to address these issues for more than a decade. In 2014, then-Mayor Eric Garcetti pledged to end Veteran homelessness within two years. The number dropped from approximately 6,300 to below 4,000 during his administration, although progress has since slowed. Current Mayor Karen Bass has focused on easing restrictions that once limited Disabled Veterans’ access to certain housing and launched efforts to recruit more landlords willing to accept vouchers.

Despite these changes, leasing rates have improved only slightly. Referrals from the VA have increased, but housing agencies still face frequent turnover that offsets gains and limits progress.

While Los Angeles has received enough vouchers to address the need on paper, the system’s complexities and ongoing challenges have prevented those resources from fully reaching Veterans. Nationally, the U.S. Census Bureau reports more than 17 million homes are vacant while over 600,000 people remain homeless, including thousands of Veterans.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.