The LookOut Letters to the Editor
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Talk Is Cheap, We Need Action

June 10, 2011

Dear Editor:

As a Vietnam-era veteran and former psychiatric social worker who treated soldiers returning from the war, I applaud the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed yesterday to force our federal government to provide permanent supportive housing at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration campus.

For 80 years the WLA VA housed and served thousands of veterans until virtually all were moved out beginning in the 1960s. Housing was no longer provided and neither was therapeutic care. We now have 7 to 9,000 homeless veterans living on the streets of Los Angeles.

We are fortunate to have Donna Beiter as Director of the WLA VA. She is dedicated, capable and committed to serving our veterans. But she cannot do it alone, she needs support from Washington to build and provide needed permanent supportive housing.

I went to Washington and met former Veterans Affairs Secretary Nicholson with Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver to seek his support for building permanent supportive housing.

Secretary Nicholson gave his support, as has current Secretary Shinseki, who pledged to end homelessness among veterans by 2015. President Obama, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and Congressman Waxman have made similar public commitments.

But talk is cheap, we need action. I call upon our President and federal representatives to immediately enact legislation that will meet our nation's commitment to build and provide needed permanent supportive housing on the WLA VA campus NOW.

Respectfully,

Bill Rosendahl
Councilmember, 11th District


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