Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined representatives from the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and the nonprofit U.S. VETS on Tuesday, April 9, to announce a new partnership between the two organizations aimed at preventing veterans from becoming homeless.
Bass, whose father served in World War II, spoke of a societal responsibility to support veterans when they return from service.
“With the same courageous rigor that you served this country, we must now serve you,” Bass said during a press conference at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall near downtown L.A.
The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, an independent nonprofit with close ties to City Hall, made addressing homelessness a priority last year after Bass took office.
Conway Collis, president and CEO of the Mayor’s Fund, said there are thousands of homeless veterans in L.A. – a situation he called “unconscionable.” He estimated that there will be 30,000 eviction notices filed by Los Angeles landlords this year.
While his organization has helped about 32,000 Angelenos experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes through its We Are LA program, many more still need help, Collis said. With the partnership announced Tuesday, the Mayor’s Fund will be able to refer veterans – and their family members – to U.S. VETS for rental assistance and other services.
“We’re going to ask specifically if (someone is) a veteran or any member of their family is a veteran. And if they are, we’re going to refer them directly over to U.S. VETS. And it makes a huge world of difference,” Collis said.
U.S. VETS offers emergency, transitional and permanent housing; career and employment counseling; supports for women veterans including case management, mental health counseling and access to childcare; supports for veterans on community college campuses, including mental health services; funds for veterans and their families who are at risk of becoming homeless as well as those who are homeless; and legal…
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