Page 3 – Military and Veterans Affairs

Women veterans sit at long tables covered in pink tablecloths, painting on canvases during a Galentine’s Sip n’ Paint event. Valentine’s Day decorations, including heart balloons and a “Happy Galentine’s Day” banner with large gold “2026” balloons, hang on the wall behind them as an organizer stands assisting participants.

Veteran Women Find Connection and Celebration at SD4 Galentine’s Gathering

ROSEMEAD, Calif. (February 2026) — Lively conversation and mariachi music filled the Rosemead Community Recreation Center on Feb. 7 as the aroma of food and sweet refreshments welcomed Veteran women and blank canvases gradually filled with vibrant color during an afternoon honoring their service, strength and community.

Around 50 women veterans came together for the 2026 Galentine’s Sip n’ Paint, hosted by Veterans Stand Together in partnership with the Veteran Peer Access Network in Supervisorial District 4 and supported by local elected officials, service organizations and community wellness partners.

Navy Veteran Earaina R. Hahn said she was immediately drawn to the event when she saw the flyer.

“It was exciting. When I saw the flyer, I thought, ‘Oh, I can be around other veterans and shoot the breeze like we used to,’” Hahn said. “My friend Tammy also joined me, and that made me more excited.”

Throughout the afternoon, attendees rotated between painting tables, wellness stations and resource booths. The Legacy High School mariachi band provided live music, while massage therapists and Reiki practitioners offered restorative services alongside community partners sharing information and support.

For Hahn, the painting experience stood out most.

“It went above and beyond. My favorite part was the painting. I have never done anything like this before, but it was actually everyone doing what they wanted to do in a way, and it felt liberating,” she said. “It was really nice. I felt relaxed, and I’ve enjoyed it.”

She said being surrounded by fellow veterans brought back powerful memories of military camaraderie.

“Being around fellow military members brings back that feeling you had when you were in the service with your fellow comrades,” Hahn said. “You don’t realize how big it was having comrades like that until you grow older and think back on everything you did together. Seeing all the ladies here smiling and having a good time filled my heart.”

Hahn added that the wellness offerings elevated the experience.

“I’ve never done Reiki in my life. It made the experience above and beyond,” she said. “From the food to check-in to when we were leaving, everyone had a wonderful personality. It was incredible.”

Josie Martinez, an organizer with Veterans Stand Together, began planning the celebration in December. The Galentine’s Sip n’ Paint marked the first large-scale event she project managed.

“I wanted it to be successful and for the women to be happy and impressed,” Martinez said. “I was hoping everyone had a great time, that we had everything for them and that they felt pampered.”

Martinez credited the collaborative effort behind the event.

“I love my team. They all rallied together, not just the team but also volunteers and the community. They just jumped on it,” she said. “I hope they walk away knowing that they are valued and admired and that we appreciate them.”

As the afternoon concluded, finished paintings were carried out alongside resource materials and raffle prizes, reflecting a gathering centered on connection, recognition and shared experience.

Story and photos by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

West Lost Angeles VA Bunker Social

📅 Mondays
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 West Los Angeles VA Bunker Social – Located on the Campus in B306, north campus (next to the canteen)

Join us for refreshments, conversation, and connections. The Bunker Social is a weekly, drop-in gathering where veterans, family members, and caregivers can meet peers, get wayfinding to services, and plug into a supportive community.

What to Expect

Friendly, welcoming space to connect with other veterans
Light-touch resource navigation and community referrals
Family-friendly; all eras of service welcome
Free to attend; no RSVP required

Sepulveda VA Bunker Social

📅 Mondays
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Sepulveda VA Bunker Social – Located on the Sepulveda VA Campus near the intersection of Kinzie St and George S. Patton Jr Dr

Join us for coffee, conversation, and connections. The Bunker Social is a weekly, drop-in gathering where veterans, family members, and caregivers can meet peers, get wayfinding to services, and plug into a supportive community.

What to Expect

Friendly, welcoming space to connect with other veterans
Light-touch resource navigation and community referrals
Family-friendly; all eras of service welcome
Free to attend; no RSVP required

Navy Veteran John “Jack” McElveen sits on his new mobility scooter during a community presentation at VFW Post 12034 in La Verne, surrounded by VFW members, local leaders, and veteran advocates who gathered to support his independence and wellbeing.

Community Partners Deliver Life-Changing Mobility to a La Verne Veteran

LOS ANGELES (February 2026) — Navy Veteran John “Jack” McElveen received a mobility scooter during a community gathering Feb. 6, at Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12034 in La Verne, where local leaders, veteran advocates, and law enforcement partners came together to support his mobility and overall wellbeing. The collaborative effort reflects a shared commitment to reducing isolation and increasing independence for veterans in the community.

Visibly moved by the moment, McElveen expressed his appreciation to those in attendance.

“I don’t know what to say, but thank you much,” McElveen shared during the presentation.

Those closest to the moment described the scooter as a turning point that will significantly improve his daily life.

“This is a huge game changer,” said McElveens son in law. “I didn’t realize how much this would mean. Thank you very much to everybody for coming out.”

The ceremony also reflected the deeper purpose behind the Veterans Peer Access Network’s work in partnership with community organizations.

“I showed up, and I was blown away,” said Simone Silva. “We get a lot of veterans who don’t have many opportunities to feel special as an individual. We were able to do a service for this gentleman; we were able to make it feel special.”

VFW Post 12034 leadership emphasized that collaboration is key to meeting veterans’ needs.

“I am very proud to be here and feel much privilege to be here on this occasion so that he can get what he needs,” said Maria McKinney, Commander of VFW Post 12034. “This was a wonderful opportunity to show what the VFW can do with other organizations and help out as many veterans and families now and in the future.”

City leadership echoed that sentiment, reinforcing La Verne’s ongoing support of veterans.

“We will always have your back,” said La Verne Mayor Pro Tem Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita. “On behalf of a grateful city, we wanted to thank the VFW Post for bringing us here today. It’s a great event, giving a veteran the opportunity to be more mobile, and we’ll see him out there in the community.”

Law enforcement partners also highlighted the broader impact of mobility on health and safety outcomes.

“Those who are in need of mobility often have issues later on where they experience crisis,” said Sergeant Patrick Gadut, who oversees the Department’s Veteran Mental Evaluation Team. “Crisis is not just mental health crisis. It can be physical crisis.”

Sergeant Gadut noted that restoring mobility helps reduce isolation and strengthens community connection, both of which are critical for veterans.

“Community engagement, especially for veterans, is very important because there’s a lot of isolation that does take place,” he said. “We love seeing all the different organizations come together to support each other, especially in the veteran community.”

The scooter presentation served as a reminder that meaningful change often begins at the local level, with neighbors, advocates, and agencies working side by side. Through partnership and shared commitment, one veteran gained not only mobility, but renewed connection and support from the community he served.

Story and photos by Layla Romero, Staff Assistant, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

MVA Monthly Thread – January 2026

Group photo of staff at an ECRC location

MVA Supports Veterans Through New ECRC

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 2026) — Since launching earlier this month, Los Angeles County’s Emergency Centralized Response Center (ECRC) has responded to hundreds of referrals by bringing county and city departments, outreach teams, and service providers into a single system. Embedded within this system, the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) serves as the County’s primary veteran-focused response partner, ensuring veterans are identified quickly and connected to housing, VA benefits, and veteran-specific services.

ECRC operates as part of a broader countywide shift toward centralized coordination, including the establishment of the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), which was established to consolidate homelessness programs, funding, and staff that were previously spread across multiple departments.

“By working together, ECRC and MVA have been able to address gaps in services and respond more effectively to client needs,” said Julie Jimenez, administrative manager with MVA’s Homeless Services Division (HSD).

As the primary point of contact for agencies engaging with veterans during outreach and encampment response efforts, MVA connects veterans to VA benefits, verifies VA shelter bed availability, matches eligible veterans to VA Project-Based Voucher housing, and links individuals to veteran-specific housing and supportive service programs. In addition to street outreach, MVA proactively works with homeless service providers and shelters to identify veterans already enrolled in programs and ensure they are connected to the full range of veteran-informed services available to them. MVA also provides training and technical guidance to partner agencies on veteran and VA systems.

MVA’s embedded role within ECRC allows the department to function as both a connector and problem-solver, helping partner agencies navigate veteran-specific systems while reducing delays and service gaps during outreach and encampment response efforts.

This coordinated approach strengthens continuity of care by ensuring veterans are not lost between systems and that follow-up remains consistent as individuals move through housing, benefits, and supportive service pathways.

“The ECRC–MVA partnership has directly contributed to improved access to resources and more consistent follow-through for participants, demonstrating what is possible when agencies align their goals and work collectively toward shared outcomes,” Jimenez said.

MVA’s ongoing work within ECRC reflects a commitment to strengthening coordination across county systems and ensuring veterans experiencing homelessness are connected to timely, appropriate, and veteran-informed services that support long-term stability.

Community members who encounter someone experiencing homelessness are encouraged to contact 2-1-1 for information, referrals, and access to countywide services, or submit a request through LA-HOP, Los Angeles County’s online portal designed to assist people experiencing unsheltered homelessness by connecting them with outreach services.

Story and photos by Layla Romero, Staff Assistant, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Facilitator presenting artwork during women veterans social

Women Veterans’ Social Afternoon Expands Connection

ARCADIA (January 25, 2026) — The Women Veterans’ Social Afternoon launched on January 25 as a community-based extension of the ongoing Monday Women Veterans’ Social at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) campus. Designed to increase access for women who are unable to attend weekday evening gatherings, the Social Afternoon brings connection and support directly into the community.

The Social was conceived through a partnership between Krystal Rains, an Air Force veteran and certified peer support specialist, and Aspyn Adams of the American Red Cross, with a shared focus on creating accessible spaces for connection.

The January gathering also included outreach support from Marisol Gonzalez, a Marine veteran and Peer Support Specialist with Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) Supervisorial District 4 (VPAN SD4) and Jobs. Vision. Success. of Southern California.

At the first Women Veterans’ Social Afternoon, participants got to know one another through resiliency-focused and art-based activities.

“This was created as a time and space where women veterans can come together in shared experience,” said Rains. “Extending the Monday West LA VA Social into the community allows more women to participate in a way that fits their schedules.”

The Arcadia Social Afternoon received additional support from community partners, including Disabled American Veterans and Southern California Grantmakers.

Building on the positive response, the next Women Veterans’ Social Afternoon will take place on Sunday, February 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the American Red Cross building in Arcadia. Light refreshments will be provided, and space is limited.

Women veterans interested in additional opportunities to connect are also encouraged to explore the Veterans Stand Together – VPAN SD4 Galentines event and ongoing programs through Women Vets on Point, which offers employment, housing, and mental health resources, as well as regular virtual connection opportunities for women veterans and their families.

Story and photo by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

West LA VA Peer Center Celebrates One Year of Service

LOS ANGELES (January 22, 2026) — What was once a quiet space on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) campus has become a vibrant, welcoming hub where veterans gather, connect, and build community, shaped by veterans, for veterans.

Located in Building 306 at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, the Peer Center is celebrating its first year of service, marking a meaningful milestone in the creation of a veteran-led space rooted in trust, shared experience, and peer support. The center reflects a strong collaboration between the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS), the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA), and a network of Veteran-serving organizations working together to ensure peer-led support remains accessible and welcoming.

“All veterans deserve a place where they feel welcome and respected,” said MVA Director Jim Zenner. “The Peer Center removes barriers and creates connection, regardless of service era or discharge status, and establishes a strong foundation for continued partnership.”

Operated by Veteran Peer Specialists, the Peer Center offers a welcoming environment where veterans can gather, participate in activities, access technology, and receive one-on-one support navigating VA services and community resources.

“When you see veterans coming back week after week, talking, laughing, and connecting, that’s the community we set out to build,” said U.S. Army veteran John Follmer, Veterans Advisory Commissioner for Supervisorial District 3 and Peer Support Specialist with the Veteran Peer Access Network in Supervisorial District 3 (VPAN SD3).

Through his work with MVA and VPAN SD3, Follmer was closely involved in the planning and launch of the Peer Center and continues to support peer-led engagement on the West Los Angeles VA campus. His role focuses on ensuring veterans have consistent, trusted access to guidance, connection, and peer support.

“The Peer Center is a safe, barrier-free space built and staffed by veterans, for veterans,” Follmer said. “That’s why we host Bunker Social at the Peer Center every Monday. That consistency is crucial for building confidence and trust, alongside other Veteran-led programs shaped by participant feedback.”

In its first year, the Peer Center served more than 1,000 veterans and their family members, welcoming an average of 25 veteran visitors each day and hosting more than 30 special events and recurring programs developed in response to veteran input.

Guided by a veteran-led steering committee and supported by partners including VAGLAHS, MVA, VPAN, The Veterans Collective, Disabled American Veterans, and Village for Vets, the Peer Center continues to serve as a trusted space for connection and support for veterans living on campus and those visiting from across the region.

All veterans, their families, and supportive members of the community are welcome to attend Bunker Social at the Peer Center every Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Peer Center is located at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90073, in Building 306 on the North Campus next to the canteen. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Questions or inquiries about hosting events can be directed to VHAWLAPeerCenter@va.gov.

Story and photo by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Jan 21, 2026 — Veterans Advisory Commission – January

Veterans and support staff gathered together

A Veteran’s Transition Toward Stability, Supported by Countywide Care

LOS ANGELES, CA (December 29, 2025) — U.S. Army Veteran Wesley Clemans and his wife were supported in transitioning into interim housing through a coordinated, veteran-centered outreach and placement effort on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, along Broadway Avenue in the Compton Sheriff’s Station area, after county teams worked across agencies to build trust and align the right resources to meet their medical, family and personal needs with dignity and care.

The effort was led by the Central Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) in partnership with the Veterans HOST (VHOST), Veterans Mental Evaluation Team (VMET), Veteran Peer Access Network Supervisor District 2 (VPAN SD2), the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA), the Chief Executive Office of Homeless Initiatives (CEO-HI), and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), following weeks of outreach and coordination.

As the team met with Clemans, hesitation was evident and rooted in years of unmet expectations. Rather than rushing the process, VPAN SD2 Battle Buddy Arman Feldman, a Marine Corps veteran with lived experience, focused on meeting Clemans where he was and creating space for trust.

“As a fellow veteran, especially one who has suffered from PTSD and homelessness, I knew what Mr. Clemans was going through,” said Feldman. “I got down on a knee and slowed the process down for him. I wanted him to know that even though there were a lot of moving parts, it was all for his well-being.”

Feldman explained that many veterans approach outreach with caution, shaped by past experiences and a fear of hidden motives. Establishing intent clearly and respectfully was essential to moving forward.

“Most veterans feel that the only reason someone wants to do anything kind for them is because there is a hidden agenda,” said Feldman. “I let Mr. Clemans know that the only agenda that day was to serve a veteran who had served honorably.”

The placement required close coordination across multiple teams, each contributing expertise while maintaining a shared focus on respect and veteran-centered care.

“What made this collaboration work was a common desire to help a veteran who was suffering and the respect every single member of the team had for our country’s troops and veterans,” said Feldman.

As conversations continued, two practical concerns became central for Clemans and his wife: ensuring the safety of their cats and securing transportation for their personal belongings. These details played a critical role in the couple’s willingness to accept assistance.

“Pets are family members,” said Feldman. “When everyone else and society has failed us, betrayed us, used us, and spit us back out, pets have been there — loyal and always loving. To leave a pet behind is to betray the morals and principles we have been trained by.”

Feldman also emphasized the importance of honoring a veteran’s sense of identity and dignity through their personal belongings.

“Our belongings, even though they are not important in the bigger scheme of things, are all we have,” said Feldman. “It makes us feel human, gives us a sense of ownership, and gives us a way to justify our human value and worth.”

With assistance from Animal Control, both cats were safely secured and later delivered once the couple was settled. Feldman volunteered to transport the couple’s belongings, ensuring nothing was left behind.

During transport to the interim housing site in East Los Angeles, Clemans shared his personal history, including his service as an Army medic, the loss of both parents, and significant medical challenges in recent years. He also shared that this was the first time anyone had clearly explained the VA benefits he was eligible to receive.

“The only way I made sense of it all and got the help I needed was because another veteran helped guide me and show me the way,” said Feldman. “It was an honor and a privilege to do the same for Mr. Clemans.”

Upon arrival at the Courtyard Inn, the team coordinated with hotel staff to ensure continuity of care, while LAHSA outreach workers assisted with unloading belongings. Follow-up support will continue through the Central HOST, VHOST and VMET teams.

Looking ahead, Feldman emphasized that this placement represents the beginning — not the end — of the journey.

“The journey for Mr. and Mrs. Clemans has just begun,” said Feldman. “I am so happy that they have a stable roof over their heads, but there is so much more ahead. As their personal battle buddy, I will help make their dreams turn into a reality.”

Story by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Photos Courtesy of Veteran Mental Evaluation Team (VMET)/ Veteran Homeless Outreach Services Team (VHOST)

Military and Veterans Affairs