A federal judge ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must prioritize housing and healthcare for disabled veterans at the West LA VA campus. The ruling voids leases with UCLA, Brentwood School, and other entities, and mandates the construction of thousands of housing units for veterans. This decision aims to address veteran homelessness and ensure the VA fulfills its obligation to care for those who have served the country.
This ruling is a significant victory for homeless veterans in Los Angeles, culminating a years-long battle to reclaim the West LA VA campus for its intended purpose: to care for veterans. Here's a breakdown of the situation and the judge's orders:
The Background:
A Broken Promise: The West LA VA campus, a sprawling 388-acre property, was gifted to the federal government in 1888 explicitly to house and care for veterans. However, over time, the VA leased out significant portions of the land to non-veteran entities like UCLA (for a baseball field), Brentwood School (for athletic fields and parking), an oil company, and a private parking lot. These leases generated revenue for the VA but did little to directly benefit veterans.
Homeless Veterans Crisis: Los Angeles has a large population of homeless veterans, many of whom struggle with disabilities stemming from their service. Despite the vast campus and the VA's mandate, the agency failed to provide adequate housing and support services, leading to a crisis of veteran homelessness in the city.
A 2015 Settlement Ignored: A 2015 legal settlement already required the VA to build 1,200 units of permanent supportive housing on the campus. However, by 2022, not a single unit had been built. This inaction, coupled with the ongoing misuse of the land, prompted veterans and advocacy groups to file a class-action lawsuit.
The Judge's Ruling:
Federal Judge David O. Carter issued a scathing rebuke of the VA's actions, finding them in violation of the West Los Angeles Leasing Act and its core mission to care for veterans. His ruling includes these key directives:
Voiding Leases: The leases with UCLA, Brentwood School, the oil company, and the parking facility are voided, as they don't primarily benefit veterans. This reclaims valuable land for veteran-centric use.
Massive Housing Expansion: The VA is ordered to build 1,800 new units of permanent housing on the campus within six years, in addition to the 1,200 units promised in 2015. This brings the total to 3,000 new permanent housing units.
Immediate Support: To address the urgent need, the VA must also build 750 temporary supportive housing units within 18 months.
Addressing Discrimination: The judge found the VA's income restrictions for affordable housing to be discriminatory against veterans. Disability payments, which are often a veteran's primary income source, cannot be counted against them when determining eligibility for housing.
Improving Services: The VA must ensure all supportive housing services meet evidence-based standards, increase staffing for support programs, and improve the effectiveness of its housing voucher program and outreach efforts to homeless veterans.
Impact and Significance:
This ruling is a landmark victory for veterans' rights and has the potential to significantly impact how the VA operates nationwide. It sets a precedent for holding the VA accountable for its obligations to veterans and prioritizing their needs above other interests.
The judge's strong words and decisive action reflect a growing frustration with the VA's failure to address veteran homelessness. This ruling sends a clear message that the VA must prioritize its core mission of caring for those who have served the country.
Looking Ahead:
A court-appointed monitor will oversee the VA's compliance with the ruling. This ensures that the VA follows through on its obligations and that the transformation of the West LA campus truly benefits veterans. While challenges may arise in implementing these changes, this ruling marks a turning point in the fight to end veteran homelessness and ensure that those who have served receive the care and support they deserve.