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Homeless encampments that have been lining the outside of the Brentwood VA will be cleared today and relocated to another location.
A number of different groups, including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority have all been working on a relocation program and transition for all the homeless veterans that have been living in homeless encampments along San Vicente Boulevard, outside the VA building in Brentwood. These homeless encampments have been growing over the past few months and seemingly nothing has been done about them.
Amy Perkins, a spokesperson for the LAHSA discussed how they are working to get homeless veterans off the street and into housing. She told CBSLA:
"The bulk at this point, it's motels. It's the tents or they moved directly into housing."
Not only has this become a housing issue, but this has also turned into a public safety issue. There have been two homicides in the encampments in the last six months alone.
A Navy veteran, Scott Baty talked to CBSLA about what it means to find housing and get out of the encampments lining San Vicente Boulevard. He said:
“We’re happy about it,”
He continued:
“Get out of here and get somewhere safe. I was assaulted maybe eight times out here. Slugged in the face, knocked out, it hasn’t been fun.”
The Sheriff's Department has sent deputies to the scene to help clear the encampments. Many of the deputies that are sent to the scene will be military veterans themselves.
Darryl Joseph works with the VA Community Engagement and Reintegration Service and discussed housing these homeless veterans. He told CBSLA:
“We have been working diligently to get each one of them housed,”
He also said:
“Each one has a different set of needs, and so it’s taken a little bit of time.”
This is definitely a step in the right direction.
For the full CBSLA story, click here.