VOALA has three new cohesive projects  designed to meet the increasing need for housing and suport services for veterans and their families.  These  programs will focus on single mothers, families at risk of breaking up, the chronically homeless and the multitude arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan.

VOALA Veterans CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Right now there are approximately 10,000 homeless veterans living on the streets of Greater Los Angeles. More than 70% suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse problems.  Rand reports that 1 in 3 suffer from substance abuse and/or PTSD; Traumatic Brain Injury and other head and neck injuries affect 25%; and 1 in 5 returning veterans are experiencing symptoms of combat stress or major depression.

1. Renovation of a 25,000 s/f facility located in downtown Los Angeles which will provide 150 transitional housing beds and classrooms and a computer center for homeless veterans and veterans returning to the community from jail or prison along with job training and placement and permanent housing services. The facility is named Rotary House in recognition of a major gift from and long-term collaboration with the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. Renovations are underway and will be completed by the end of 2009. The total cost is $5 million. $2 million has been raised, primarily from public sources, leaving a balance to be raised of $3 million.

2. Renovation of a 1920’s hotel  in Hollywood that will provide 50 beds for a pilot project in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs that will target the more severe level of psychological problems experienced by the veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for whom the current VA services are inadequate and who are having an unprecedented level of difficulty in readjusting to society. This facility presents a naming opportunity for a major donor. Renovations are underway and will be completed by the end of 2009. The total cost is $3 million. $1 million has been raised from public sources, leaving a balance to be raised of $2 million.

3. Renovation of 76 former Navy housing condo units in San Pedro that will provide long term housing for 76 former Navy housing condo units are a community for female veterans whose families are at risk of disruption.  We will also target single mothers and other female veterans who are finding it difficult to transition back in to civilian life. Community centers and support services on site. While we are initially calling the housing complex Navy Village it presents a naming opportunity for a major donor. Renovations will commence when adequate capital funding is assured by way of grants and pledges. The total cost will be $23 million. $13 million has been identified from public sources, leaving a balance to be raised of $10 million.

In summary, capital costs total $31 million, of which $16 million has been raised or is assured. The balance to be raised for the Veterans Initiative is $15 million.

To learn more about the Veterans Initiative, please call our Development Department at (213) 251-7659 or  email development@voala.org.