Veterans Restore Historic Garden on West LA VA Campus as Housing Construction Lags
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Veterans and volunteers are restoring a historic Japanese garden on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) campus, a site central to a long-running effort to house homeless veterans. While more than 1,200 units of housing have been built following lawsuits and protests, current construction is years behind schedule. The VA states funding for further building will be provided later, after a previous administration's budget request included no new funding.
Facts First
- Volunteers led by a veteran adviser are restoring a 1968 Japanese garden on the West LA VA campus.
- Housing for over 1,200 veterans has been built on the campus after a 2012 investigation found misuse while veterans were homeless.
- Current campus construction is years behind schedule, with past budget requests failing to fund new beds.
- The VA says funding for construction will be provided at a later date, following bipartisan congressional complaints over non-disclosure agreements.
- The 387-acre campus was donated in 1888 for veteran use and now includes a community-built garden maintained weekly.
What Happened
John Follmer and other veterans volunteer to restore a disused Japanese garden on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) campus. This restoration occurs on a campus where housing for more than 1,200 veterans has been built, though construction on the campus is currently years behind schedule.
Why this Matters to You
If you or someone you know is a veteran in Los Angeles, this story highlights both community-driven support and systemic delays in accessing promised services. The garden provides a space for healing, but delays in construction could mean a longer wait for veterans seeking housing on the campus.
What's Next
The VA has stated that funding for further construction on the West LA campus will be provided at a later date. The pace of building may depend on future budget allocations and the resolution of oversight issues. The volunteer work in the garden is likely to continue, offering a consistent point of community engagement.