A Veteran Finds a Home

Since January 2013, Los Angeles organizations housed over 7,500 homeless veterans. This achievement is remarkable given the tightening housing market and higher rents that continue to increase. The primary reasons for the high number of recently housed veterans are increased federal funding for Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers and for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF). SSVF provides funds to help homeless be rapidly re-housed. VASH provides rental assistance once housing is found.

While millions of dollars in funding are going towards homeless veterans services, rental assistance, and developing new affordable housing, the need is still great. L.A. still has the highest number of homeless veterans in the Nation; ten veterans become homeless every day in L.A. We recently had a conversation with one vet who recounts the day he discovered he was eligible for veteran rental assistance and how important the services he receives are to his life.

Lionel Mouldew is a veteran of the U.S. Army and is a current resident of the Rosslyn Hotel, a SRO Housing Corp. development. Standing outside of SRO Housing Corp.’s Annual Veteran Luncheon, he recounts the time an outreach coordinator found him at a food pantry and told him to register at US Vets so he could get assistance. Once registered, he discovered that he was eligible for a VASH voucher and would no longer be living on the street.

The Rosslyn Hotel is one of SRO Housing Corporation’s Permanent Supportive Housing developments.
Lionel is grateful for the services he receives from the Rosslyn and US Vets and the endless love and assistance he receives from people in his life. Now, he has his own apartment, fully furnished, and is able to have his family visit often. He also speaks fondly of the beautiful view he has. He works helping caterers and installing fireplaces.

Shelter Partnership continues to advocate and work towards a future where every homeless veteran in Los Angeles can find the assistance needed for housing. We thank all of our supporters for helping us be a part of this positive change.