Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday unveiled a new 100% affordable housing project near the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center – a 53-unit development that will provide dozens of veterans, including those who have struggled with homelessness, a safe and permanent place to call home.
Under Bass’ Executive Directive 1, more than 40,000 affordable housing units are in the pipeline, with 6,000 under construction – including the site of Tuesday’s event.
“When I took office, it could take years just to approve an affordable housing project in Los Angeles,” said Bass. “A maze of bureaucracy and years of inaction by past city leaders left far too many Angelenos and too many veterans sleeping on our streets. We never hesitate to fund war, but when those young Americans come home, too often we fail them – and that’s unacceptable.”
Directing her remarks to the veterans at the event, Bass doubled down on her commitment to ensuring that no former service member is left to sleep on the streets of Los Angeles.
“I wouldn’t be here today without the mayor’s push to help homeless veterans. It literally saved my life, and that’s no exaggeration,” said Army veteran David Sinatra. “After two long, painful years living out of my truck, I finally have a place to call home and have my life back. I’m just one veteran who fell on hard times, but there are so many more like me. Thank you to Mayor Bass, the VA, HACLA, and all the property owners and developers who are helping us get a fresh start.”
The Mayor’s House Our Vets initiative has placed more than 750 veterans and their families into permanent, stable homes, while street homelessness has dropped 17.5% and the city has recorded its first consecutive two-year decline in overall homelessness under Bass’ leadership.
“For a long time, it felt like the system just didn’t work,” said Simon Aftalion, principal at Passo, the development firm leading the project. “Then Mayor Bass took office and changed that. What you see here today – this construction site – is proof of that leadership. In just nine months from now, it will deliver 53 new homes right here in the heart of West LA, built specifically for veterans.”
Lourdes Castro Ramírez, President and CEO of HACLA, said, “This is the impact of a coordinated, nimble government response and the generosity of owners who open their doors to those who served our country. With streamlined leasing and a dedicated online portal, we’re moving faster than ever to get veterans housed – and keep them housed.”