Anthony Vance has been using services offered at the West Los
Angeles Veterans Affairs property since 1979.
“First it was because of health issues,” he said.
“But I became addicted to drugs through the years. … Now
I’m here mainly because of drug issues.”
Another veteran, Michael Johns, who was discharged from the Army
in 1985, said he has been dealing with homelessness ever since his
service ended.
Vance, Johns and several other veterans rely on the services
offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to get their lives
back on track, but with the possibility of VA lands being used for
non-veteran-related matters, many are concerned about the future of
those services.
Two proposals ““ one that would expand the Wilshire Federal
Building for new FBI headquarters and another that would auction
off a 10-acre parcel of land in the southern portion of the VA
lands ““ have received much criticism from veterans and
community members for a variety of reasons, including concerns over
public safety and increased traffic.
Several veterans said they want to maintain the lands to support
current and future veterans, and several supporters contend that
the land is for veterans’ use and needs only.
“We need this … especially for the ones that’s
coming back from Afghanistan,” said Eric Ederson, a veteran
who served from 1985 to 1991, including time in the first Gulf
War.
“These guys are going to be messed up, man. … They
ain’t going to have anywhere to go.”
Veterans receive health services and living spaces from the
Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles Healthcare Center
and from New Directions, an organization located on the VA lands
that houses and rehabilitates veterans in Los Angeles.
Murray Wood, director of development for New Directions, said
the benefits for veterans in the United States has been
deteriorating, with 250,000 veterans turned away from VA medical
centers just last year.
But specialist Tracy Ellingsen, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Army
Reserve, said the 10-acre parcel scheduled to be auctioned this
June is used by the U.S. Army Reserve only, and has been since the
mid-1950s.
“It is just offices,” Ellingsen said, referring to
Holderman Hall and Munemori Hall, which she said house no veterans
nor provide veterans services.
According to the California Department of Veterans Affairs Web
site, the state is in “great need” of additional
veteran homes, and in 2002 funds were provided for the construction
of three new Veteran Home campuses, including a large facility on
the West Los Angeles VA lands.
With these needs in mind, veterans and community members
continue to oppose any non-veteran use of the property. They see
the use of the lands for the betterment of veterans as being most
important.
“We just want to live normal,” Ederson said.
“Mentally and physically.”