LOS ANGELES — Mayor Karen Bass today issued the following statement:
“As we recognize Veterans Day, let us recommit to serving those who served our country – especially as we confront the homelessness crisis.
“Veterans all across the country fall into homelessness. Just last month, I led a delegation to Washington, DC with Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian and members of the Los Angeles City Council, some of whom have veteran service centers in their districts.
“During our trip, we met with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough to discuss expanding access to Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers and continuing support for building interim and permanent supportive housing on VA facilities in L.A. The Secretary committed to continue close engagement with Los Angeles. Our delegation also explored ways to ensure that veteran benefits don’t disqualify them from housing opportunities and talked about ways to support Angelenos who are unhoused with an other-than-honorable discharge.
“We will continue to stand for those who have sacrificed so much for all of us. We must do more. Happy Veterans Day.”
Pictures, b-roll and more information about the Mayor’s meeting with Secretary McDonough here. In October, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1386 into law, which was authored by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel and supported by Mayor Bass. The law will cut down on bureaucratic red tape and create an expedited process to move homeless veterans into supportive housing units faster.