The Veteran Street Academy

Affordable housing and homelessness

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

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

According to the LAHSA’s annual Homeless Count, there were 3,000 unhoused Veterans living in Los Angeles in 2024, a decrease from 3,878 in 2023. We are part of a solution that’s working. We also understand the challenges associated with sustaining this momentum over time. While first-year housing retention rates are generally high, we are seeing a drop-off after that, and no one is tracking retention long-term.

Research by the National Library of Medicine shows the strongest risk factors for homelessness among Veterans are substance abuse, mental health issues, poverty, and social isolation. Numerous studies show that peer support has a substantial positive impact on Veteran mental health and well-being. While services are available to address substance use, mental health, and economic wellness, there are few programs that prioritize social supports.

The Veteran Street Academy is privately funded and fills a critical gap in homeless services in today’s uncertain public landscape.

The Veteran Street Academy (VSA) is a flexible, community-based program that connects unhoused and at-risk Veterans to housing and long-term stability. Through VSA, we helped 63% of participants retain their housing last year. We will expand VSA through the integration of peer mentorship and targeted engagement to strengthen housing retention for at-risk Veterans and build a foundation for lasting success.

Grant activities will include:
· Identify Peer Mentors with lived experience/proven leadership skills
· Provide specialized training for Peer Mentors
· Match participants with Peer Mentors
· Regularly distribute a postcard with a list of Village for Vets services and other local resources
· Conduct regular check-ins with Peer Mentors for ongoing training and support
· Peer-led tours of the VA West LA for newly housed Veterans and Veterans county-wide (tour the new campus Peer Center and other VA resources)
· Case worker check-in with participants who have been housed for one year
· The provision of temporary financial assistance to help with rental arrears, utilities, groceries, other items

With the new mandate to prepare thousands of permanent housing units for occupancy at the VA West LA, it is imperative that we develop the supports that at-risk Veterans need to thrive. With offices located on the VA campus and 9 years of experience effectively supporting Veterans who face the most difficulty engaging in outreach efforts, we are uniquely positioned to do this work.

Village for Vets envisions a future Los Angeles without Veteran homelessness, and we’re on our way. By building a stronger and more comprehensive support system around newly housed Veterans who are at risk of falling back to the streets, we will improve long-term housing outcomes.

Over the next three years, we have plans for further expansion of the Veteran Street Academy that includes hiring an Aftercare Coordinator to focus exclusively on retention strategies. This includes the development of a scalable and replicable aftercare plan and regular check-ins with participants throughout the year and beyond. Some of the strategies we will explore include formal individual and group mentoring sessions, community building activities, participant incentives, and new evaluation metrics.