Lawsuits: Homeless Veterans - Vets agency gives businesses the boot

The leases are central to an American Civil Liberties Union complaint filed against the VA in June that accuses the agency of neglecting homeless veterans who need care after traumatic military experiences.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of disabled, homeless veterans, accuses the VA of breach of fiduciary duty for leasing much of the property to businesses although it was donated by private owners in 1888 to provide housing for disabled war veterans.

The suit, which names four veterans as plaintiffs and seeks class action status, says the land was used to permanently house vets until the 1960s and 1970s, when the VA stopped accepting new residents and allowed buildings that had provided permanent housing to fall into disrepair or be used for other purposes.

The Source

Lawsuits - Homeless Veterans: CA lawmakers: Don't sell parts of LA's VA campus

House and Senate Democrats from California are opposing any efforts to sell off parts of west Los Angeles' Veterans Affairs campus as part of negotiations on the federal debt.

The 387-acre campus is currently the subject of a lawsuit accusing the VA of offering insufficient services for homeless vets.

The Source

Homeless Veterans: West LA VA Releases Master Plan; ACLU Not Impressed

West LA VA Releases Master Plan; ACLU Not Impressed

“Our veterans need beds and care, not words,” ACLU Attorney David Sapp said

While WLA VA officials say in the plan that they offer thousands of beds to veterans throughout Los Angeles county, the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a complaint claiming that homeless veterans are entitled to supportive housing on the WLA campus, which plaintiffs say they need so that their medical treatment can be effective.

It's like having the services offered at the top floor of a tall building, and the elevator only goes up to the third floor, and the patient is in a wheelchair, he said, explaining that these veterans need housing, counseling and health services close to each other.

And the Master Plan itself, though repeating a long-standing commitment to care for all veterans, is long on proposals, but short on concrete commitments, including timelines, Sapp said

“The only firm commitment from the VA was to private companies and entities currently using the land,” said Sapp. The WLA VA leases portions of its grounds to various outside operations, including a laundry and a car rental agency – a practice that is attacked by the ACLU lawsuit which claims that the rentals are a violation of the 1888 grant that called for the grounds to be used for a soldier's home.

To review the final draft of the Master Plan and statements by the WLA VA, go to its website.

Veterans Affairs Lawsuit: ACLU Criticizes Failure To House Homeless Vets

Veterans Affairs Lawsuit: ACLU Criticizes Failure To House Homeless Vets

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Mark Rosenbaum says the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center master plan released Wednesday does not include any commitment to care for vets who need permanent homes after traumatic wartime experiences.