LOS ANGELES (April 2026) — What began as a routine Pathway Home Operation in Compton on April 2 became a turning point for 73-year-old Army veteran Ronald Branscomb, guided by a network of partners and his own commitment to stay on track.
“I was sleeping in the back seat of a friend’s car. You’re not getting steady sleep. It takes a lot out of you,” Branscomb said about his situation leading up to the encounter.
After losing his identification and his phone, Branscomb lost contact with his caseworker and access to services, pulling him back into homelessness, but things began to turn around when he encountered deputies from the Veteran Homeless Outreach Services Team (VHOST).
“When he saw us, he recognized the uniform and knew we were there to help,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. John D. Strosnider, a Marine Corps veteran assigned to VHOST.
Immediately after that interaction, partners including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing (HSH), People Assisting the Homeless (PATH), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Outreach program, and Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System (HOPICS) coordinated efforts to stabilize Branscomb’s situation and link him to support, including securing temporary lodging through a hotel voucher.
“You never know what someone is going through on their own,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Julian Ayon Jr., an Army veteran with VHOST who first approached Branscomb. “When you get them to the right people, it becomes a whole different situation for them.”
With a place to rest and regroup, Branscomb was then referred to the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) in Supervisorial District 4 (VPAN SD4), Veterans Stand Together, where he met Veteran Peer Specialist Luis Lopez, who helped him get a phone and move forward with replacing his identification.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to help my comrades. Ronald is an Army veteran—a brother in arms—even though we served in different eras,” said Lopez. “There’s a bond of camaraderie we share, rooted in the belief that you never leave a fallen brother behind. That bond is why we do this work: so a veteran knows they’re not fighting alone and that someone has their back.”
Though they served in different eras, Branscomb and Lopez share a common bond as Army veterans, a connection that helped build trust and understanding in those early moments.
“It feels good. This is a chance for me to rest and get my thoughts back in line,” Branscomb said after settling into his room. “I wasn’t good at doing it by myself. I see good help now, so I’ve got to stay focused and be available.”
From there, Lopez stayed alongside Branscomb, helping coordinate with the Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Homeless Services Division (HSD) to move him toward more stable housing. On April 15, he moved into St. Andrews, a supportive housing site in Downtown Los Angeles, a significant milestone in his path toward stability.
For Branscomb, this moment marked a change. After years of instability, he spoke about approaching what comes next with a renewed sense of focus.
“Working with people who really care gives me hope,” Branscomb said. “It makes me want to stay committed and keep moving forward.”
Story by Ashley Cohen, Public Information Associate, Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
