Housing for Veterans

at Sepulveda VA

Jobs and affordable housing are among the top needs identified by veterans according to a 2008 report by the National Veterans Foundation.  Other needs include education, health care (particularly mental health care), and assistance in transitioning back to civilian life.

California has more homeless veterans than any other state, and the number of displaced vets will only increase as troops return from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.  A 2007 report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that of the 300,000 homeless veterans in the US, at least 21,000 live in Los Angeles County.  One of every four homeless persons is a veteran.

The plan by New Directions, Inc. (NDI) and A Community of Friends (ACOF) to transform two unused buildings into 147 studio apartments for disabled low-income veterans is clearly a necessary step in the right direction.  The sheer number of veterans in need of affordable housing ensures that these 147 units will always be 100 percent occupied by veterans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Housing for Veterans project?

This development will provide 147 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless and disabled veterans. Buildings 4 and 5 on the Sepulveda VA grounds in North Hills will be rehabilitated to accommodate studio apartment units and community rooms, as well as dining, recreation and classroom space.

Who proposes to develop this housing?

New Directions, Inc., a nonprofit which has provided comprehensive services for veterans for 17 years is partnering with A Community of Friends (ACOF), another nonprofit that has over two decades of experience in developing permanent supportive housing.

What is supportive housing?

Supportive housing is an apartment community in which tenants receive a variety of services onsite to help them maintain their ability to live independently. Typically, services may include case management, counseling and mental health services, literacy and educational programs, vocational training and job placement, and assistance in managing personal finances. Tenants of permanent supportive housing have all the rights and responsibilities afforded to tenants in non-supportive housing, including the requirement that they abide by the conditions of the lease agreement.

Who will own the property?

The Department of Veteran Affairs owns the property and has granted 75-year leases to New Directions and ACOF for Buildings 4 and 5 on the Sepulveda VA campus.

Will the VA sell the property to ACOF and/or New Directions?

No. The VA will not sell the property to New Directions, ACOF or any other entity. (Click here to see confirmation from the VA)

How were Buildings 4 and 5 being used previous to the lease agreement?

The buildings have been vacant for many years, and were occasionally used by production companies for film and television shoots. Previously, the buildings were used as a neuropsychiatric facility and a clinic for spinal cord injuries.

Has the VA considered alternative uses for these buildings, such as a hospital?

The VA intends to keep Sepulveda as an outpatient/ambulatory care campus. No inpatient hospital uses are being contemplated.

Who will live in the studio apartments?

Low-income disabled veterans who meet eligibility requirements will occupy the studio apartments.

Will alcohol or methadone use be permitted in this housing?

No. Alcohol is not permitted on VA land, and individuals on methadone maintenace will not be eligible.

Is this a sober living facility?

No. The definition of "sober living facility" is a group home where individuals take part in a program to recover from alcohol or drug addictions. This project is a housing community where every veteran will have his/her own apartment. Additionally, not every veteran in this proposed project will have a history of addiction.

What is the cost of this project?

The estimated cost for the renovations of Buildings 4 and 5 (including required seismic retrofitting and lead/asbestos abatement) is $40 million.

Who is financing this project?

New Directions and ACOF expect to utilize federal, state and local government funding (along with some private investment) in order to develop this project.

Do New Directions and ACOF stand to profit from this project?

No, neither agency will profit from this development. New Directions and ACOF are both 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Any funds received will be used to carry out the missions of these organizations.

Will this project bring increased crime to the community?

No, housing for disabled veterans will not pose a safety threat or bring increased crime to the North Hills community. To ensure a safe environment, each building will have a live-in resident manager and round-the-clock front desk support.

Will this project negatively impact property values?

Buildings 4 and 5 sit in the middle of a large VA campus, more than 500 ft. from any home in the North Hills neighborhood. There are no studies to show that supportive housing developments lower property values in the surrounding neighborhoods.

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