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How To Find Connection As A Veteran In LA
A Field of Honor outside of City Hall in Lawndale to honor Veterans Day.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Southern California counts hundreds of thousands of veterans among its population, many of whom call Los Angeles County home. Ahead of Veterans Day this weekend, LAist's daily news program AirTalk, which airs on 89.3 FM, is highlighting a handful of issues within our local veterans community. On Monday, AirTalk host Larry Mantle spoke with a panel of expert guests to give an overview of the state of veterans in Southern California, the major challenges the local population is facing and how local agencies are working to address them.
The state of veterans in Southern California
The challenges veterans are facing in Southern California are not unique to the rest of the country, says USC Professor Carl Castro, who recently co-authored a study looking at the needs of veterans in the region. He says one of the most significant concerns locally is housing.
According to data this year from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), there are nearly 4,000 unhoused veterans in L.A. County. While homelessness in veterans has declined over the last decade nationally, the greater L.A. area accounts for around 10% of homeless veterans, according to local experts.
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Why connection is so critical
"Those who join the military, they join because they want to contribute to something that's bigger than themselves," says Castro, who also served in the U.S. Army for 33 years. "When they leave the military they lose that somewhat unless they engage in other activities."
Castro says the loss of camaraderie takes its toll and veterans who work with veterans support agencies to help others transition, find philanthropic opportunities, or simply find engaging activities that mean something to them are better off.
Those who join the military, they join because they want to contribute to something that's bigger than themselves.
— Carl Castro, USC professor of social work
Jim Zenner directs L.A. County's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and served tours in Iraq for the U.S. Army. He says military members are trained not to pay attention to how they feel while serving, and even if you do try and share your experiences, sometimes not everyone wants to listen.
"I was talking about some of the stuff that happened over in Iraq, and some of my good friends didn't want to hear anymore and actually stopped talking to me," Zenner says.
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He encourages veterans to attend conversational events for veterans like the one being hosted by Congressman Ted Lieu, who's a veteran, on Nov. 12. Veterans can register here. The county is also hosting a Veterans Day event at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in Downtown L.A.
L.A. County is hosting a veterans event at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall from 10 am to 1 pm.
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L.A. County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
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Trust in the VA
The most obvious way of finding connection and resources is through the Department of Veterans Affairs, but Castro says research shows veterans aren't using the VA to the full extent that they can. While two thirds of veterans are satisfied with the services, some are mistrusting or frustrated with the organization as a whole.
John Kuhn, deputy medical center director for VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care, says while some of those negative experiences are real historically, he does believe things have improved.
"The VA has seen a significant influx of funding," he says. "We've been able to improve our staffing levels. The service delivery has picked up. So some of the weights that may have been true some years ago aren't true now. I'd hope veterans would be willing to give VA a chance."
Finding resources
Kuhn says California has a disproportionate share of veterans who are unhoused.
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"It's for the obvious reasons," Kuhn says. "The same stressors that all of your listeners face in terms of the cost of living here, the cost of housing, is felt even more acutely by people who have lower income."
He says there are a number of resources for veterans when it comes to housing, including vouchers that subsidize housing and the Supported Services for Veteran Families Program, which provides funding to help pay for rent. And if an L.A.-based veteran becomes unhoused, they can call the Veterans Homeless Hotline and receive temporary housing and a ride on the day of: 310-268-3350.
Listen to the conversation
Listen
• 34:18
Veterans Series: The Biggest Challenges Vets Face In Southern California
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