LOS ANGELES – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) joined Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and other state and local officials at the groundbreaking of five new buildings at the West Los Angeles VA. Buildings 401A, 402, 404, 156 and 157 will provide supportive housing for 380 unhoused and at-risk veterans and their families. Today’s groundbreaking follows the opening of 233 new housing units for permanent supportive housing. This series of construction projects was made possible thanks to the West Los Angeles Leasing Act, legislation that Congressman Lieu and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) authored in 2016 and later became law. This law allowed for redevelopment and the expansion of housing opportunities for veterans at the West Los Angeles VA.
“I am honored to attend today’s groundbreaking for Buildings 401A, 402, 404, 156 and 157, representing the next phase in our fight against veteran homelessness. During my time as the representative for the West LA VA Medical Center in Congress for eight years, I saw firsthand the dedication of all those who got us here today, including advocates, community leaders, and most importantly veterans. These new buildings will provide safe, comfortable, and reliable housing for 380 of our nation’s heroes and their families. I’m proud to have co-authored the West Los Angeles Leasing Act with Senator Feinstein, which helped make this development possible. I’m also pleased to have championed the PACT Act, legislation that provides over $350 million in funding for critical improvements at the West LA VA to better serve our veterans. Today’s groundbreaking is another great step in the right direction, but our efforts to ensure all of our veterans have a safe place to call home will continue. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration, my colleagues in Congress, our state and local officials, advocates, and my fellow veterans to end veteran homelessness.”
The groundbreaking of Buildings 401A, 402, 404, 156 and 157 follow the openings of Buildings 205 and 208 in May and Building 207 in February. In March, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced three new lease agreements for the construction of 264 additional permanent supporting housing units on the West LA VA Campus, which are expected to open in 2024 and 2025.
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