Ending veteran homelessness: Is LA making progress?

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Podcasts Take Two

Nov 12, 2014

Listen • 3:58

Ending veteran homelessness: Is LA making progress?

Counselors have just over a year to make good on a promise by the current administration to get every last vet off Los Angeles' streets and into long-term housing.

George Phillippi is a homeless Vietnam veteran living on Skid Row who decided to pursue social services after being contacted by Mark Meeker of the Los Angeles County Mental Health Department during the Operation Healthy Streets initiative.

Counselors have just over a year to make good on a promise by the current administration to get every last vet off Los Angeles' streets and into long-term housing.

Tuesday was a day of parades and remembrances for veterans. Wednesday it's back to work for hundreds of counselors tasked with ending veteran homelessness in the United States.

They have just over a year to make good on a promise by the current administration to get every last vet off Los Angeles' streets and into long-term housing.

Deep in L.A.'s Skid Row, on San Julian Street, Mark Meeker and Gilbert Jimenez wander the street offering assistance and first aid to anyone who needs it.

KPCC's Eric Zassenhaus reports.