The VA has updated its annual goal for ending veterans homelessness.

On March 15, the VA updated its annual goal for ending and preventing veterans homelessness across the United States.

The Greater Los Angeles Area will remain the focal point of the VA’s efforts at least through the remainder of 2023. Last year, the VA placed 1,301 formerly homeless Los Angeles veterans into permanent housing. This year, the VA hopes to find permanent homes for at least 1,500 veterans. Additionally, the VA hopes to connect at least 1888 unsheltered veterans currently living on Los Angeles streets with veterans support services that can help them build and maintain financial independence and mental well-being.

Numerous accounts, ranging from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to independent veterans services organizations claim that there are still over 3,000 homeless veterans in the city. However, some sources have suggested that the counting system the VA relies on is flawed and that the true number of homeless veterans living in Los Angeles is much higher. These claims, however, are difficult to corroborate. 

To further combat veterans homelessness in Los Angeles, the VA and its partners have been converting unused portions of the West Los Angeles VA campus into temporary shelters and permanent housing complexes. In February, the department opened the first of at least 20 planned permanent complexes on the northern section of the campus. Additional structures are set to begin renovations later this spring.

Nationally, the VA helped place over 40,000 — surpassing its goal of 38,000 — formerly homeless veterans into stable, permanent housing while also connecting these veterans with support services in 2022. Furthermore, the VA is hoping to prevent these veterans from returning to the streets with a growing network of partners. Last year, of the roughly 40,000 veterans the VA helped, about 2,400 became homeless again. However, 86 percent of these veterans were able to find housing again. This year, the VA hopes to increase that safety net to 95 percent.

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.