Breakthrough in the Fight to End Veteran Homelessness

On August 5th, 2024, NVF Founder Shad Meshad took the stand in an LA courtroom to testify in a suit against the VA for failing Veterans in Los Angeles County. Shad, whose personal history includes an early stint with the VA, was in his 39th year of fighting the issues this case was brought to address. He was on the stand for over two hours. At the end of it, the defense for the VA declined to cross examine. That says a lot.

Federal Judge David O. Carter walked the extensive grounds of the West LA VA campus and interviewed homeless Veterans before he ruled to hold the VA accountable “for failing to honor its obligations on the West Los Angeles VA campus.” He ordered that the campus be used to provide housing and healthcare to disabled veterans, as originally intended. 

The lawsuit was filed by Public Counsel. The NVF was asked to participate as a plaintiff organization along with Veteran plaintiffs who were homeless, disabled or both. We were hopeful that this lawsuit would prevail. In 2015, the  unlawful land-use issue was the topic of much discussion and planning. The VA promised to build 1200 housing units then. We’re still waiting.

Judge Carter’s order voided significant land-use leases  held by UCLA, Brentwood School, Safety Park and Bridgeland Resources, an oil company, and requires 1800 units of permanent housing for disabled Veterans. It also requires 750 temporary units on West LA VA grounds within 18 months. Of great importance to us because of the NVF Street Outreach program, was his declaration that disability payments not be included as income, a discriminatory practice that kept many disabled Veterans from eligibility for affordable housing. This part of the ruling was a huge success in disabled Veterans’ struggles to find housing nation-wide.

In addition to that, Carter’s ruling mandated that all VA permanent supportive housing services meet evidence-based standards and requires increased staffing and improved effectiveness in its housing voucher program. Carter named John C. Hueston as monitor to “ensure timely and comprehensive compliance with his order. Hueston said, “It is a tremendous amount of work and responsibility…I think this is a historic and sweeping ruling that is attempting to right a very deep wrong against our veteran community.” We couldn’t agree more. On behalf of those we serve, we express our gratitude to Public Counsel for their perseverance, and to Judge Carter for his wisdom.