Federal Judge Finds U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Discriminates Against Homeless Veterans
After months of hearings, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter ruled that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discriminates against homeless veterans whose disability compensation makes them ineligible for housing on its West Los Angeles campus. Carter found that the VA has a fiduciary duty to use the campus primarily for housing and healthcare for disabled veterans, raising questions about leases for sports facilities, oil drilling, and parking lots.
A non-jury trial starting Tuesday will determine potential remedies for the VA. Attorneys representing the veterans are seeking an order for nearly 4,000 units of permanent supportive housing on the campus, along with the construction of 1,000 shelter beds. They are also asking the judge to prevent the VA from contracting with developers who impose restrictive income limits that exclude veterans with disability compensation.
The lawsuit, filed by homeless veterans and made a class action case, argues that the VA has failed to uphold a 2015 settlement agreement to develop a master plan for the campus. The plaintiff’s lead counsel contends that the lack of adequate housing at the VA forces veterans with serious mental illness or traumatic brain injury towards institutionalization, creating a cycle of temporary housing, emergency departments, psychiatric institutions, and jails.
The trial will also address the validity of leases for athletic facilities, oil drilling, and parking operations on the campus. The controversy over housing on the West Los Angeles campus dates back to the Vietnam War era, with ongoing legal battles over the use of the land for the benefit of veterans.
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