LOS ANGELES (June 2026) —Every veteran’s path to stable housing is different. Some are at immediate risk of losing their housing. Others need a safe place to stay while searching for permanent housing. Many face challenges navigating complex housing systems, accessing earned benefits or overcoming barriers that stand in the way of long-term stability.
“We have veterans’ six throughout their housing journey, providing the support and resources needed to achieve lasting stability,” said Nareh Alexani, MPA, Veterans Services Supervisor, Homeless Services Division.
To meet those diverse needs, the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ (MVA) Housing Services Division (HSD) coordinates the programs, services and partnerships veterans need throughout their housing journey. Among those efforts is the Veteran Housing Navigation Program (VHNP), which has connected more than 400 veterans with personalized housing navigation and coordinated support since launching earlier this year and housed 70.
Together, these efforts support Los Angeles County’s broader commitment to ending veteran homelessness by strengthening coordination across County departments, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), housing providers and community organizations. Through the County’s One Team approach, HSD helps reduce barriers, streamline access to services and ensure veterans receive coordinated support from their first point of contact through long-term housing stability.
“Every veteran has a different story, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This milestone shows that when we invest in dedicated Housing Navigators who build relationships, coordinate services, and remain engaged throughout the process, veterans are much more likely to move toward permanent housing,” said Julie Jimenez, Administrative Manager, Homeless Services Division who oversees VHNP. “It’s also a testament to the strength of collaboration between the County, our provider agencies, and our community partners.”
From advocating for greater homelessness prevention to permanent housing, HSD works closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) and community housing providers to provide veterans with the right support at the right time.
For veterans at risk of losing their housing, HSD works to identify solutions that can help preserve housing stability. For those in need of immediate shelter, HSD partners with community organizations to connect veterans to emergency or interim housing while helping them move toward permanent housing.
“Our Housing Navigators assess each veteran’s unique needs, develop individualized housing plans, coordinate with landlords and service providers, assist with gathering documentation, overcome barriers to housing, and provide ongoing support throughout the process. Navigation means walking alongside the veteran every step of the way not simply handing them a list of available units,” said Jimenez. “The goal is not just to place a veteran into housing, but to help ensure they are successful in maintaining long-term housing stability.”
Throughout that process, MVA’s accredited Veterans Services Officers (VSOs) help veterans access the federal, state and local benefits they have earned, including VA health care, disability compensation, pension, education benefits and other supportive services.
Eligibility for one program is never the end of the conversation. When veterans are not eligible for certain VA housing programs or benefits, HSD, VSOs and community partners work together to identify alternative resources and develop a plan that reflects each veteran’s unique needs and circumstances.
Through VHNP, Housing Navigators with Jobs.Vision.Success Southern California (JVS SoCal) in Supervisorial Districts 1 and 5, Village for Vets in Districts 2 and 3, and People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) in District 4 provide personalized, one-on-one guidance from referral through move-in. Whether helping complete Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) and Project-Based Voucher (PBV) applications, gathering required documentation, identifying housing opportunities, coordinating unit viewings, communicating with landlords, arranging transportation or preparing for move-in, Navigators help remove barriers that can delay a veteran’s path to permanent housing.
VPAN complements these efforts by providing peer support and coordinating temporary emergency financial assistance when a short-term financial obstacle threatens a veteran’s housing stability or delays a housing opportunity. These targeted resources help veterans maintain momentum while longer-term housing solutions are put in place.
“HSD serves as a connector, bringing together county departments, the Department of Veterans Affairs, housing providers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners to create a unified system of care. By sharing information, coordinating referrals, participating in case conferencing, and aligning resources, we help ensure veterans receive timely and appropriate services,” said Jimenez.
HSD also plays an active role in Los Angeles County’s Emergency Centralized Response Center (ECRC), working alongside the Departments of Homeless Services and Housing, Mental Health, Health Services, Public Social Services, Public Health, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and other partners to coordinate outreach and connect unsheltered veterans with housing resources, earned benefits and supportive services.
“We’ve worked with veterans who had been turned away because of prior evictions, poor credit, or complex discharge histories. Through persistence, strong partnerships, and dedicated Housing Navigation, we were able to help those veterans secure permanent housing,” said Jimenez. “Watching a veteran walk into their new home often after experiencing homelessness for an extended period is a reminder that housing changes lives. It restores stability, dignity, and hope.”
Once veterans secure permanent housing, support continues through ongoing case management and connections to housing services that help them remain successfully housed, creating a continuum of care that extends well beyond move-in.
Whether helping prevent homelessness, connecting veterans with earned benefits, navigating the path to permanent housing or coordinating long-term support, HSD and its partners are committed to ensuring veterans have the resources they need to achieve lasting housing stability.
“At HSD, our mission isn’t simply to help veterans find housing, it’s to help them build a stable foundation from which they can move forward with dignity, purpose, and the opportunity to succeed,” said Jimenez.
Need Housing Assistance?
Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness can connect with MVA by:
- Calling 877-4LA-VETS (877-452-8387), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Emailing intake@mva.lacounty.gov
- Visiting mva.lacounty.gov/contact-us
24/7 Housing Support
- National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs): 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) — Available 24/7
- 211 LA: Dial 211 for housing resources and community services — Available 24/7
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then Press 1, or text 838255. You can also chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net.
Story by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and photo by Layla Romero, Public Information Staff Assistant, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
