Fate of VA grounds in SM still uncertain
BRENTWOOD — Residents here are worried about just what type of homeless individuals will end up in their neighborhoods if a proposal initiated by Santa Monica City Councilman Bobby Shriver is accepted by the federal government.
The Brentwood Homeowners Association (BHA) is gearing up to fight a proposal brought forward by Shriver, local government agencies and a coalition of nonprofit homeless providers. The proposal seeks to refurbish at least three buildings on the West Los Angeles VA campus to accommodate up to 500 homeless veterans, with at least half going to chronic homeless people. Chronic homeless individuals have been on the streets for a year or more, or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years, according to officials. They also suffer from one or more disability, mental illness or substance abuse.
The BHA and other homeowners’ associations are gathering signatures for a petition to send to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, R. James Nicholson, who will ultimately decide on the fate of the VA grounds. BHA members already have sent a letter to Nicholson explaining that they believe Shriver’s proposal doesn’t allow for “continuum of care” services or transitional housing. Residents are fearful that homeless vets who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, or are mentally ill, will be put directly into permanent housing on the VA grounds without proper detoxification, substance abuse services, counseling, job training and employment assistance.
“We view the Shriver proposal as a ‘housing first’ model, where they go directly from the street into permanent housing,” said BHA board member Ray Klein. “The Shriver proposal is to take chronic homeless from Santa Monica’s beaches and streets into the VA.”
Shriver said it’s not a “housing first” model and the proposal at this point is nothing more than a land use plan for the VA grounds. After Nicholson decides whether or not the 387-acre campus should be commercially developed or remain a respite for war veterans, the discussion would begin about what type of homeless services should go there and which organization will deliver them.
“If the proposal is approved, the local VA will do a (request for proposals) and then nonprofits will make their proposals on how to deliver services,” Shriver said.
Shriver said he met with Klein and other Brentwood residents last month in an attempt to explain the proposal, but they walked away still convinced that there’s a real possibility that chronically drunk and mentally ill homeless people may end up in their neighborhoods.
“I think they are legitimately afraid and that’s why I met with them because they need to be reassured... no one wants the patients there running amok in the neighborhoods,” Shriver said, adding the misperception is his fault because he feels he didn’t make his proposal clear enough to Brentwood residents.
“I told them, ‘This isn’t up to me or you,’” Shriver said. “It’s up to the VA clinical staff (to determine what services and providers will be on campus).”
The proposal is being reviewed by Nicholson’s office and the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services Commission (CARES). It is unknown when a decision will be made on the future of the VA grounds.
In the meantime, Klein and his neighbors will continue to gather signatures in an effort to stop the proposal. Klein said the BHA supports using the VA grounds for homeless veterans, but the services and housing ought to be geared toward people who have made the commitment to get clean and sober. Affordable, long-term housing comes at the end of the continuum, he added.
Shriver and his supporters say both sides have the same goal.
“It consumes the time and energy of people who should be working together,” Shriver said.
Barbara Tenzer, a Brentwood resident and a member of the CARES local advisory board, said the focus should be on making sure vets get the proper support they need. She added that she understands the fears of her neighbors but that the fears are largely unfounded.
“It’s coming from Santa Monica, which is a magnet for the homeless situation and that scares people... I think it’s inappropriate for (the BHA) to send that petition to Secretary Nicholson because I think it is a very positive thing Bobby wants to do, and I can understand that they are afraid that it will become Santa Monica,” said Tenzer, who also owns a commercial real estate company on the Third Street Promenade.
“I think it would be great if the Brentwood Homeowners Association would work with Shriver so everyone can help the vets because they are the ones losing out.”
Part of the problem is that people get confused with the terms and definitions used in describing homeless individuals, Tenzer said.
“It’s healthy to have a debate, but there is a lot of miscommunication,” she said. “The more we unravel this, the better we will be.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 20, 2006. Read the original PDF.