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# Homeless help homeless
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/homeless-help-homeless/
- Published: 2003-12-31T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:25:46.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

*By Daily Press staff*

More than 50 formerly homeless veterans are giving back to the community tonight by purchasing turkey dinners for the less fortunate who are in emergency shelter at the West Los Angeles Armory.

The veterans are graduates of New Directions, Inc., a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program located on the West LA Veteran Affairs campus. They contributed money to help provide food to homeless persons who are staying at the armory as part of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Winter Shelter Program. New Directions is subcontracted by LAHSA to operate the winter shelter program in West LA and Culver City armories.

The New Year’s dinner for 140 people will be prepared by the New Directions’ culinary arts department. The veterans also have purchased socks for the emergency shelter residents and will distribute sleeping bags donated by the U.S. Armed Forces.

During New Year’s Eve, several veterans intend to spread the message of “No More Homelessness in 2004.” They will encourage homeless people to change their lives by sharing their histories of despair, their recovery and their eventual return to work, permanent housing, self determination and dignity.

The West LA Armory is located at 1300 Federal Ave.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/123103.pdf?ref=smdp.com)