VA Weighs in on Sepulveda Housing Project

by Ralph Tillman

The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) is the largest integrated healthcare organization in the Department of Veterans Affairs consisting of three ambulatory care centers, a tertiary care facility and 9 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) totaling 945 beds, and over 5,000 employees.

Our Mission is to honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Our Vision is to be a patient-centered integrated health care organization for Veterans providing excellent health care, research, and education; an organization where people choose to work; an active community partner; and a back-up for National emergencies. We Value, Trust, Respect, Excellence, Commitment and Compassion.

GLAHS has the largest Community Care Program in the nation that supports homeless Veterans. The mission of the program is to help homeless Veterans return to the community as independent, productive citizens. Annually the Community Care program serves 6,000 Veterans.

Outreach workers seek out homeless Veterans to inform them of such services as primary care, transitional housing, vocational rehabilitation, case management, and permanent community housing. The effectiveness of the programs is shown through 2,800 homeless Veterans served ongoing through treatment/housing programs. Program resources include 55 emergency shelter beds, 1,500 transitional housing beds, 940 HUD Section 8 permanent housing vouchers, and 300 community, residential care facility beds for Veterans with chronic health conditions.

The New Directions, Inc. (NDI) and A Community of Friends (ACOF) project will renovate Buildings 4 and 5 to create notmore than 149 units of supportive housing for homeless Veterans on the campus of the GLAHS, Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center. As part of the project NDI/ACOF will provide Veterans with counseling, case management and crisismanagement services and prior to admission, Veterans must have completed a VA or State sponsored residential treatment program prior to occupancy, and for those with a personal history of abusing alcohol or illegal drugs, have maintained sobriety (no use of alcohol or drugs) for a minimum of 6 months prior to submitting their application.

Accordingly, Veterans residing in such housing would be in an advanced treatment status. Further, the leases provide for the tenants to receive case management for the duration of their residency. It is important to note that this project is not a "housing first" or "street-to-home" model it ismore so designed to supportVeterans at the end of the continuum of care where Veterans are more stable and ready to reintegrate as positive contributors to society.

GLAHS, through its Community Care Program, will work closely with NDI and ACOF to provide referrals to the program. In addition, all necessary medical and psychiatric care, as well as substance abuse treatment clinical support will be provided by GLAHS as this type of housing would complement the programs currently on the WLA and Sepulveda campuses and would suit the GLAHS patient population.

To have this kind of project located on a VAAmbulatory Care Center Campus is beneficial to both Veterans and the VA as the Veterans participating in the program will have access to such services as Primary Care, Radiology, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Mental Health, some specialty care services, and eventually a Community Living Center (Nursing Home). This partnership between GLAHS and NDI/ACOF will provide much needed housing to our homeless Veterans in the Los Angeles area.

– Ralph Tillman is the Acting Chief of Public Affairs for the VA Greater Los Angeles.