September 2026
September is here, and we’re hoping it brings some cooler weather to the West LA VA campus after a very warm summer!
This month, we’re proud to share the inspiring story of a Veteran who was housed with the help of VA Street Outreach, news about the latest Veteran residence building on campus, info about recent security upgrades, and much more!
Keep reading for the latest; we hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter and all the exciting progress happening here at West LA VA.
748 Bonsall Ave. Welcomes New Veteran Residents!
748 Bonsall Ave. is officially open and Veterans have been moving in! The latest permanent supportive housing property to open on the West LA VA campus, this building features 37 furnished apartments for formerly homeless Veterans.
Permanent supportive housing refers to stable, long-term housing paired with on-site supportive services that help Veterans rebuild their lives and remain housed. Developed by The Veterans Collective (TVC), this property is “adaptive reuse,” meaning, a historic building that’s been fully renovated to meet modern standards.
New residents are also receiving Welcome Home Kits containing household essentials to help them settle in! These are made possible through the generosity and dedication of Santa Monica Elks Lodge #906, which oversees the program and secures funding for the supplies. Together with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System's Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) and TVC, volunteers assembled kits for every new resident.
With this newest property, there are now 766 permanent supportive housing apartments open across the West LA VA campus — including 712 units that have opened since 2023. Click here to see more photos of the new residence on our Facebook page!
‘There Are People Who Care’: Marine Corps Veteran Finds Hope and a Home Through VA Outreach
For Marine Corps Veteran Denise Spykerman, having a home again means air conditioning. Electricity. Ice in the freezer. A kitchen where her daughter can make pancakes.
But getting there took years of perseverance – and someone willing to keep showing up.
With the help of VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Street Outreach Social Worker Sergio Torres, Denise is rebuilding her life – and she has a message for other Veterans who might be struggling.
“Don’t give up. Keep trying, no matter what.”
Click here to read Denise’s inspiring story in our latest blog post.
MMU Brings Care Directly to Veterans on West LA VA Campus
Since March, VA’s Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) has been making regular visits to the West LA VA residential community, bringing nurses, health care and resources directly to formerly homeless Veterans living in permanent supportive housing on campus.
The team checks vitals; provides vaccines and health assessments; helps Veterans reconnect with appointments and providers; and connects them with a wide range of resources. Just as importantly, the MMU offers a relaxed, welcoming place for Veterans to stop by and talk.
“We want them to see us as part of their community,” said Registered Nurse Care Coordinator Femi Duyilemi, one of the providers who frequently goes out with the MMU team. “We bring snacks, we hang around, we talk.”
This is one part of the MMU’s work to reach Veterans throughout Greater Los Angeles, as it travels to different communities, offering care wherever Veterans are.
Click here to read more about the team’s work on our Facebook page!
Emergency Callboxes Installed to Enhance Safety & Security
Security update at West LA VA! 37 emergency call boxes, all equipped with direct-facing cameras, two-way communication with dispatch, and alarm lights, have been installed throughout the campus.
These call boxes will support VA Police Department (VAPD) security efforts by providing real-time surveillance, eye-level camera views, and additional coverage in open areas such as parking lots and outdoor gathering spaces.
If you’re on campus and need to use a call box, simply walk up to it and press the button located just below the VA decal. An alarm light will activate, and you will be immediately connected to VAPD dispatch for assistance.
It is important that these call boxes be used only during emergencies or situations involving distress to ensure Veterans, visitors, and staff receive assistance when it is needed most. This effort is part of VA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening overall security and promoting the well-being of the campus community as more Veterans call West LA home.
Innovative Virtual Program Helps Veterans Find Relief from Tinnitus
Did you know tinnitus is the most common service-connected disability among Veterans? And that it’s the most frequently approved new disability?
Millions of Veterans struggle with the condition, which involves the perception of ringing, buzzing, humming, or other sounds without an external source.
But here at GLA, our innovative Virtual Tinnitus Program is helping Veterans find real relief – sometimes after decades of struggling.
Click here to read all about the program in a recent blog post!
USC Mobile Dental Clinic Now Serving Veterans at West LA VA
The USC Mobile Dental Clinic is back on the West LA VA campus, serving Veterans in need of dentistry care!
The clinic team will be on site from September 10-17th, offering services including comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and root canals for low-income Veterans without VA dental coverage. They’ll serve over 100 pre-registered Veterans during this clinic window.
This great opportunity is brought to campus by the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and Village for Vets, in partnership with VA. We look forward to seeing the amazing results for Veterans! Veterans can stay abreast of future opportunities on the Village for Vets website.
VA Study Finds Equal Access in VA Healthcare Removes Racial Differences in Cancer Outcomes
 For Veterans diagnosed with cancer today, new research suggests that their race will not determine their chance of survival when they receive care through the VA.
In the comprehensive study, “Equity and Cancer Survival Among Veterans Health Administration Patients,” data was examined from more than 600,000 Veterans with cancer managed through VA. Drawing from 39 eligible studies conducted over several decades, the research showed that VA provides equal access to comprehensive care, essentially erasing the racial survival gap repeatedly demonstrated elsewhere across the U.S.
Pictured left to right above: Dr. Drew Moghanaki, Radiation Oncologist, and Dr. Donna Washington, General Internist at VAGLAHS, were coauthors of a study on racial disparities in cancer survival.
Learn more about this study in our latest blog post.
Link to study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2851082
Antelope Valley VA Clinic Celebrates First Anniversary
 On August 13, 2026, the Antelope Valley VA Clinic Dedication Ceremony brought together Veterans, their families and caregivers, dedicated VA employees, community members, and dignitaries to celebrate an important milestone in Veteran health care access!
The Antelope Valley VA Clinic officially opened its doors on August 27, 2025. In its first year, the clinic has already served more than 6,000 Veterans. Located in Lancaster, the clinic offers a range of specialty care services, including Physical Therapy, Dental Care, Eye Care, Audiology, Speech Pathology, and a dedicated Women’s Health Clinic. Most importantly, its location provides Veterans in the Antelope Valley with greater access to care closer to home, reducing the need to travel long distances for essential health care services.
The dedication ceremony was filled with celebration and community! There were resource tables, complimentary coffee and refreshments, and a special musical interlude by the New Directions Veteran Choir. The ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought everyone together. Click here to watch a video about the event on our Facebook page!
You’re Invited to the Annual Food Security Resource Fair
 Veterans, you are invited to the Annual Food Security Resource Fair at West LA VA! This special event gathers a wide array of resources, organizations, and individuals to help ensure you have the nutrition support you need.
The fair takes place on Friday, September 25th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Parking Lot 7 next to the Wadsworth Theater at West LA VA.
You’ll be able to sign up for SNAP benefits, learn about available in-home and community food services, experience Whole Health and cooking demonstrations – and more! Lunch will also be served courtesy of the Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE).
We hope to see you there!
Submit Your Veteran Event or News Item!
If you have a suggestion for a topic that affects Veterans in the GLA area (particularly West LA VA campus residents), we want to hear from you! Good topic ideas offer new or timely information, and helpful or actionable items for readers.
To be considered, please send the following information to VHAGLAMASTERPLAN@VA.gov.
- The information you’re wanting to share.
- Please provide relevant details such as dates/times/links.
- Why this is beneficial for Veterans.
- Feel free to include flyers or other materials for reference.
Important Resources Section
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