Operation Homefront LA

Affordable housing and homelessness

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Jewish veterans and military families in Los Angeles County face a unique and often overlooked combination of challenges—including housing instability, food insecurity, cultural isolation, and difficulty navigating public systems that do not meet their religious or cultural needs. Many are aging, live on fixed incomes, and are disconnected from veteran services that are not equipped to support kosher food needs, faith-based care, or culturally competent outreach. Without targeted support, these individuals are at increased risk of homelessness, chronic isolation, and unmet health needs.
Although veteran-focused services exist in Los Angeles, they rarely center Jewish identity or tradition, leaving a gap that is both practical and spiritual. Jewish veterans often hesitate to access support systems that feel alienating or culturally irrelevant. These gaps can lead to disengagement, unclaimed benefits, and housing crises—especially among older adults, widows, and low-income families.

Operation Homefront LA is a new initiative from Jewish Friends of the American Military (JFAM) that will provide culturally competent, wraparound support to 150 Jewish veterans and active-duty service members in Los Angeles County, with a specific focus on serving at least 50 older veterans. This initiative is designed to address the housing instability, food insecurity, and social isolation faced by this community—issues often unaddressed in traditional veteran support systems.
With support from LA2050, Operation Homefront LA will deliver:
Emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation
Monthly kosher food deliveries to aging or homebound veterans
One-on-one case management to help individuals access VA benefits, healthcare, housing programs, and long-term services
Volunteer outreach and culturally grounded wellness support to reduce isolation and restore dignity

JFAM’s initiative will prioritize older adults—many of whom live alone on fixed incomes—and provide personalized, accessible services that meet their physical, emotional, and cultural needs. This project not only fills a critical service gap but also strengthens community connection, promotes stability, and ensures that those who served our country are not left behind in their time of need.

If Operation Homefront LA is successful, 150 Jewish veterans and service members in Los Angeles County—including 50 older adults—will experience measurable improvements in housing stability, food security, and access to services. At least 75 will avoid eviction or utility shutoffs, 600+ kosher meals will be delivered, and 50 veterans will receive one-on-one case support leading to benefit or healthcare enrollment. Over 100 volunteer hours will provide wellness outreach. Long-term, JFAM aims to expand this initiative to reach 300+ veterans annually, develop formal referral pipelines, and replicate the model to improve culturally competent care across the region.