Veterans have long stood at the forefront of national service — a dedication that deserves not only words of gratitude but also a firm commitment to their well-being. Yet, for far too many veterans in California, military service has been followed by the struggle of living without a home due to skyrocketing rent fees, as well as untreated health conditions and health care barriers.
According to national statistics, homelessness among veterans has declined by more than 55 percent since 2010, but even with this significant reduction, nearly 33,000 former service members remain unhoused. To address this concern, the federal government released a new executive order in May that established the National Center for Warrior Independence — an initiative designed to pair stable housing with long-term comprehensive support.
California has one of the largest veteran populations in the country. With more than 1.3 million former service members calling California home — including nearly 191,000 former military personnel in Los Angeles County — the state reflects both the scale of service and the depth of challenges that follow. Despite decades of federal and state initiatives, California has continued to report a high level of homelessness over the past years. In fact, in 2022, at least 10,395 individuals across the Golden State were unhoused, and 2,721 of them were in Los Angeles County.
For those directly impacted, the challenge extends far beyond having no shelter to live in. The truth is that many homeless veterans endure chronic illnesses due to prolonged toxic exposure while they served in the military, including asbestos contamination. Because of the mineral’s powerful chemical bonds, it was used in numerous Navy ships and military facilities, including the now-closed Fort MacArthur in Los Angeles County. Once inhaled, the microscopic asbestos fibers can drive various ailments — such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer — which took the lives of over 27,000 people in California from 1999 to 2020. Such stark realities make it even clearer that solving homelessness also comes with addressing the lasting health risks of military service.
The federal government’s decision to launch a National Center for Warrior Independence demonstrates a growing recognition that housing insecurity among veterans requires comprehensive solutions. Rather than offering only short-term relief, the program is designed to bring together housing as well as extensive health care and recovery services under one umbrella. For California, with the nation’s largest population of unhoused veterans, the goal of extending assistance to up to 6,000 individuals by 2028 could mark a turning point.
Yet the success of this commitment depends on how effectively the initiative is structured, funded, and integrated with local networks that already serve numerous veterans. There is reason for this cautious optimism: since the inception of the Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, the Department of Veterans Affairs has accepted over 2.93 million claims, including almost 220,000 from California. Of these, nearly 2 million applications have been approved to date, with more than $6.8 billion in compensation awarded as of 2024. That record shows what is possible when programs are very well-resourced and carefully executed.
The challenge now is to carry that same discipline into this new effort. If implemented appropriately, the center could deliver more than housing — it could provide veterans with the foundation to rebuild their health, security and independence.
Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization.
