Appeals court affirms federal judge's order to build housing on the VA's West Los Angeles campus

"Citing president Lincoln's "promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors,"Circuit Judge Ana de Alba opened the panel's opinion with a rebuke of the VA's posture in the case. "This class action lawsuit, and its numerous appeals, demonstrates just how far the VA has strayed from its mission," de Alba wrote."

""There are now scores of unhoused veterans trying to survive in and around the greater Los Angeles area despite the acres of land deeded to the VA for their care. Rather than use the West Los Angeles VA Grounds as President Lincoln intended, the VA has leased the land to third party commercial interests that do little to benefit the veterans.""

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an order requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to construct more than 2,500 housing units on the West Los Angeles VA campus and invalidated commercial leases, including a private school's sports complex. The panel affirmed veterans' claims of discrimination for lack of access to campus housing while reversing a lower court order that had invalidated UCLA's baseball stadium lease. Circuit Judge Ana de Alba criticized the VA for leasing land to commercial interests instead of using it for veterans' care, citing Lincoln's promise. Advocates say the ruling could help end veteran homelessness after decades of litigation and agency failures.

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