Support for the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015
Passed by
- Bel Air-Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council (modified version)
- Brentwood Community Council (modified version)
- Mar Vista Community Council
- Pacific Palisades Community Council (modified version)
- Palms Neighborhood Council
- South Robertson Neighborhoods Council
- Venice Neighborhood Council
- West LA-Sawtelle Neighborhood Council
- Westside Neighborhood Council
- Westwood Community Council
- Westwood Neighborhood Council
Motion
The ________ Neighborhood/Community Council supports the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015 (Feinstein / S. 2013 and Lieu / H.R. 3484), to place permanent supportive housing on the Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Campus in West LA.
Background
S. 2013 and H.R. 3484
WHEREAS, the ______ Neighborhood Council includes (x number) of members/families, who reside in the neighborhood(s)/communities of x. We are neighbors of the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center (West LA VA) and support the use of the property to directly benefit our nation’s Veterans.
WHEREAS, Los Angeles County has the highest number of homeless Veterans in the nation. According to the most recent homeless count conducted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, there are 4,363 homeless Veterans in the county.
WHEREAS, in order to address this crisis, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently implementing a Homeless Plan and developing a Master Plan which will serve as a roadmap for housing and programs at the West LA VA.
WHEREAS, the current best practices for housing homeless Veterans is to offer Permanent Supportive Housing with comprehensive services. There is strong evidence-based data confirming a high rate of success and stability using this Housing First model.
WHEREAS, the VA would like to build an appropriate number of Permanent Supportive Housing units on the West LA VA based on the needs of the most chronically homeless Veterans, including women, aging and disabled Veterans. Permanent Supportive Housing requires a vehicle called an Enhanced Use Lease. The West LA VA does not currently have Enhanced Use Leasing authority and therefore cannot build Permanent Supportive Housing.
WHEREAS, Senator Feinstein and Congressman Lieu have introduced companion bills known as the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Acts of 2015. This Act gives the VA the authority to enter into Enhanced Use Leases for the sole purpose of providing supportive housing. The authority has a number of safeguards, including the prohibition against selling or disposing of the land for private development. There are also regular reporting requirements to Congress about the status and success of the supportive housing.
WHEREAS, we are pleased the VA is striving to transform the West LA VA into a Veteran- centric property and we support their efforts to use the property to serve our nation’s Veterans.
Notes
Passed unanimously by the WRAC Land Use committee
Brentwood CC and Pacific Palisades CC’s modified version:
PPCC supports the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act of 2015 (Sen. Diane Feinstein’s bill S. 2013 and the companion House HR 3484 sponsored by Rep. Ted Lieu), to place permanent supportive housing on the WLA VA Campus, conditioned upon the VA continuing to work with the impacted communities of Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood and West Los Angeles during the implementation of the 2016 Master Plan to fully study and adopt reasonable mitigation measures with respect to any material adverse environmental impacts, including traffic impacts, such studies may identify.