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A Salute to Our Heroes

Veterans Day: We thank you for your service

In celebration of Veterans Day, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all who have served our country with courage and dedication. With nearly 2 million veterans living in our state, California is home to the largest veteran population in America.

As Californians celebrate friends and family today, who have served in the various branches of our military, I would like to dedicate this holiday to highlighting some of the recent legislative accomplishments for veterans, as follows:

  • Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) Pilot Program

    The VSSR Pilot Program is a grant program to fund supportive services for veterans aged 55+ within the construct of Housing First and using evidence-based practices so that aging veterans experiencing chronic homelessness can age in place and enjoy the stable and thriving quality of life that they deserve.
  • California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI)

    The CVHI is a $50 million program created in last year’s budget and intended to reduce suicides by veterans. It consists of three elements:
    • Outreach and Education Campaign
    • Veteran Mental Health Support Network
    • Veteran Suicide Surveillance and Review Program
       
  • Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program

    The Assembly secured $100 million ($50 million in 2022-23 and $50 million in 2023-24) to increase the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Program which has funded the construction of more than 3,000 housing units for veterans and their families, since its establishment in 2014.

For more information and Veteran resources, visit www.calvet.ca.gov/

There are also benefits available to Californians who have served in the military at the local level through County Veterans Service Offices, which assists veterans and their dependents with information on federal and state veteran’s benefits and help them complete application forms. For more information about Military Veterans Affairs at Los Angeles County, please visit https://mva.lacounty.gov/ or call (213) 765-9680.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact my office.

In Service,

Wendy Carrillo signature

WENDY CARRILLO
Assemblywoman, District 52
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee No.4 on State Administration
Chair, Select Committee on Latina Inequities
Vice Chair, Legislative Progressive Caucus

PS: If you have any questions about our legislative work, please visit my contact page, here.