As Los Angeles paused to honor its veterans on Veterans Day, Mayor Karen Bass touted not just gratitude but tangible strides in combating veteran homelessness in the city. Bass highlighted the city's "historic progress," emphasizing, "Los Angeles will always honor the sacrifice and patriotism of those who serve our country, and that includes continued action to sustain our work to house our Veterans," according to a statement from her office.
Indeed, this Sunday, the Mayor plans to underscore this commitment by hosting an event for veterans who have found homes through the House Our Vets initiative. Advanced details about the event will become available for media representatives looking to cover this story. Mayor Bass's efforts have seen her join hands with bipartisan mayors to champion federal reforms that proved crucial in aiding veterans to secure housing without forfeiting disability benefits.
Since the amendment of the federal policy, the House Our Vets initiative has celebrated a 99% retention rate with more than 360 veterans housed via the HUD-VASH program. This campaign is a collaboration with local organizations, including the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles REALTORS, which has resulted in a surge of landlords accepting HUD-VASH vouchers.
Moving away from the status quo, Mayor Bass's administration has led an aggressive charge against homelessness, resulting in a remarkable two-year consecutive decline. The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported a 23% drop in veteran homelessness by the end of 2024, while the Inside Safe initiative has been pivotal in steering thousands off the streets, marking a 17% reduction in homelessness overall since Bass took office.
