A group of veterans has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, claiming that the agency has failed to provide housing and health care to veterans with disabilities in Los Angeles. The plaintiffs, consisting of 14 veterans, argue that nearly 3,500 veterans are currently homeless in the city. The case may be heading to trial, as U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has denied motions to dismiss portions of the lawsuit.
In his ruling, Judge Carter stated that certain land lease agreements on the VA’s West Los Angeles campus are not primarily benefiting veterans and their families. The VA spokesperson, Gary J. Kunich, declined to comment on the pending litigation but expressed pride in the work being done to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles.
Currently, the VA has completed 233 permanent supportive housing units on the West L.A. campus, with 199 of them occupied as of September 15th. In addition, there are 134 tiny shelters and six units available for overnight drop-ins. The department also provides various services to address veteran housing instability and homelessness.
The plaintiffs, who suffer from serious disabilities such as PTSD and traumatic brain injury, are seeking coordinated housing and health care services for all unhoused veterans with disabilities in the region. They argue that without such housing, veterans cannot access the necessary treatment services they are entitled to.
Shad Meshad, founder and president of the National Veterans Foundation and one of the plaintiffs, expressed concern over the conditions faced by homeless veterans in Los Angeles. He emphasized the need for the government to support veterans in their struggle to survive and thrive.
The lawsuit, filed by Los Angeles-based law firms Public Counsel and the Inner City Law Center, also aims to prohibit the VA from using its West Los Angeles property for ventures that do not primarily benefit veterans. Public Counsel has noted that despite previous commitments, very little permanent supportive housing has been built on the property.
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