Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has announced a new initiative to help house homeless veterans in partnership with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough and local officials. This move comes after a federal regulatory change, advocated by Mayor Bass, has made it easier for veterans to access both disability benefits and housing assistance, as per an official statement. The initiative is particularly timely, given that homelessness has risen by 18 percent nationally but is on a decline in Los Angeles, with a reported 10 percent reduction in street homelessness—the city's first in six years.

In a recent announcement, Mayor Bass stated, "We’re bucking the trend and bringing homelessness down in LA." Detailing the components of the initiative, the Mayor's Office has teamed up with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and local housing authorities to streamline the process for veterans to receive housing vouchers, with an additional focus on aiding property owners and rental housing providers in the initiative. Within this effort, veterans like Harold Hicks have found new stability. "I was sleeping in my car after I lost my job but then I was able to get connected to services and find an apartment that accepted my federal housing voucher," Hicks said.

Secretary McDonough expressed his commitment to the project, saying, "We are all in and we will not rest until every Veteran has precisely what she or he deserves, which is a dignified housing arrangement," during the announcement event. Engaging not just federal and municipal bodies, the campaign is reaching out to local businesses and property owners to support the cause—underscoring the collaborative nature of this initiative.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger commended the effort and encouraged the community's participation, suggesting it was about more than just providing shelter but restoring dignity. "This effort is not just about housing—it’s about restoring dignity and providing a stable foundation for those who have served our country with honor," Barger said in a statement made by the Mayor's Office. Veterans and property owners interested in the initiative can learn more by emailing [email protected] or seeking information through the Mayor's office.