> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Homeless vets may get shelter at West LA site - URL: https://www.smdp.com/homeless-vets-may-get-shelter-at-west-la-site/ - Published: 2005-05-25T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T07:11:47.000Z - Author: Ryan Hyatt - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness *City needs to make proposal to VA by July* CITY HALL — In its ongoing fight against homelessness, officials here have asked the Veteran’s Administration to consider making its West LA campus a health care and housing facility for down-and-out veterans. City staff participated in a May 6 meeting hosted by the VA when officials discussed alternative uses for several VA sites around the country, including the West LA campus. City Hall’s recommendation to the VA is one of several measures city staff is undertaking to continue to address the homeless problem in Santa Monica and neighboring cities. City staff provided their update at the Westside Council of Governments homeless subcommittee meeting last Friday. City Hall announced its desire to see the VA site used to house veterans in a letter from Santa Monica Mayor Pam O’Connor sent on May 17. Specifically, City Hall requests that buildings on the campus be used as a year-round, “service-enriched” emergency shelter. To support that recommendation, the letter states the facilities at the VA campus are a rare resource that could be marshaled to meet the needs of homeless veterans on the westside. The letter also states City Hall is confident that such a facility would “be a good neighbor to surrounding businesses and residents.” Shriver said the idea of the regional homeless liaison will be discussed further during budget sessions held this week. City Councilman Bobby Shriver, who said he has participated in discussions with the VA regarding possible use for the abandoned portion of the campus, said a regional effort to use the site to help veterans may prove successful. “It will turn into a good thing, as long as we keep the focus on homeless veterans,” he said. However, city staff will need to provide a more thorough proposal to the VA by July in order to be seriously considered, Shriver added. In order to do that, he said it’s essential the city of Santa Monica hire a proposed regional homeless coordi-nator to expedite the process with the VA and other social service programs. Shriver said the idea of the regional homeless liaison will be discussed further during budget sessions held this week. Staff has been given direction to investigate the job description of the proposed position. At the same time, funding the position, which is estimated to cost about $200,000, still needs to be budgeted for next year. “Hopefully, the other councilmembers will be on board,” Shriver said. “I want there to be hard-core focus on the homeless problem next year.” In City Hall’s letter to the VA, local officials suggest that their knowledge of the issue would help it be a good partner in the possible development and planning of the veterans shelter. City officials said they would help the VA turn the campus into a facility to meet the emergency housing needs of veterans. The shelter also could assist the veterans with social service, health and mental health needs. City Hall also wants to create a regional shelter that would serve the westside’s homeless population, not just veterans. A site for such a facility was proposed on the 10000 block of Venice Boulevard, across the street from the VA. The city of Santa Monica provided a $10,000 deposit for the site, but the acquisition fell through. SOBERING CENTER BLUES The fact the sobering center fell through is a point which Shriver said is all the more reason a regional leader is needed to facilitate program plans. “The sobering center fell through because of a planning and zoning issue,” Shriver said. “It’s unfortunate that after five months of looking into the center it shouldn’t work (because of the oversight). Again, this is another reason why we need the regional homeless liaison, to make sure these things move forward.” Shriver said the sobering center would have been more than a drunk tank. It would have provided individuals who have committed misdemeanors an opportunity to choose a treatment program over jail time. “The sobering center has to be part of a coordinated approach to fight alcoholism,” Shriver said. “It needs to be part of the successful 12-step programs and be treated aggressively if it’s to get off the ground.” City Hall’s letter says surrounding cities are continuing to look for the development of such a site and that the city of Santa Monica is “ready to advocate for necessary funding that and/or legislative designation that could make a year-round shelter at the VA West Los Angeles campus a reality.” Shriver said without a stronger regional effort, however, the sobering center concept could easily fall by the wayside. CITY HALL WORKING TO IMPROVE HOMELESS COURT City Hall’s human services division, which helps coordinate homeless programs in Santa Monica, is currently working with the Santa Monica Police and service providers to use the criminal justice system more effectively so transients guilty of misdemeanors may choose to take part in a service program over jail time. However, the impact of alternative sentencing — when the judge gives the choice of services or jail time — is limited since Los Angeles County Jail typically doesn’t hold persons sentenced for non-violent misdemeanors for more than 72 hours. According to city staff, that means transients have little incentive to take part in programs because they will be back on the streets shortly after they’re arrested. The city of Santa Monica is investigating the feasibility of paying for beds at the county jail, so that for offenders facing longer jail time, services become a more attractive option than incarceration. CHRONIC HOMELESS PILOT PROJECT RESULTS For the past 10 months, city staff has developed a pilot project intended to target those most difficult to reach, who are the most service resistant and have been on Santa Monica’s streets for the longest. The goal of the pilot program is to reach chronically homeless people with a well-coordinated interdisciplinary and sustained effort. To date, 19 people have been enrolled in the program, 11 of whom are off the streets and all of whom have a service plan, according to city staff. City officials intend to expand the program. City Hall has budgeted $459,000 to continue the program next year. In addition, City Hall will spend $200,000 to evaluate its “continuum of care,” the social services it has available for the homeless. Two homeless liaison police officers and two park rangers will be hired to help enforce the laws, costing approximately $461,000. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 25, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052505.pdf?ref=smdp.com)