April 2025 Recap
Happy first day of May! This April, we celebrated growth across the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus – not just in nature, but throughout our VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System community, with new housing, new partnerships, new events, and more.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll get the scoop on the latest developments, including the opening of the newest Veteran residence on the West LA VA campus: 701 MacArthur Ave. Check out some photos of the property below!
We’re also sharing an incredible story of recovery. When Navy Veteran Steve Gomez was admitted to the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center's Community Living Center, it didn’t seem possible that he would live independently again. Keep reading to see how Steve defied the odds through hope, hard work, and compassionate care.
701 MacArthur Ave. Opens with More Housing for Veterans at West LA VA!
 Veterans have started moving into 701 MacArthur Ave, the newest and largest residence on the West LA VA campus! 69 units are now open, with 49 more coming online over the next several weeks. This brings the current total to 448 Veteran housing units open on campus with 730 expected to be open by 2026.
This new property, designed by renowned architect and Army Veteran Frank Gehry, and built by Thomas Safran & Associates, part of The Veterans Collective, features 11 separate buildings with 118 total units, including the first two-bedroom apartments on campus.
The apartments come fully furnished and resident amenities include a fitness room, computer lab, landscaped courtyard with seating areas and BBQ, and laundry room. Plus it’s pet-friendly!
Let’s welcome these Veterans home! And feel free to join the conversation about this new property on our Facebook page.
From Homeless & Bedbound to Independent Again: One Veteran’s Miraculous Journey
17 months ago, Navy Veteran Stephen Gomez weighed less than 90 pounds, didn’t have a place to live, and was bedbound. When he was admitted to Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center’s Community Living Center (CLC), his prognosis was poor.
But Steve’s care team at the CLC never gave up on him, and thanks to their hard work – and Steve’s – he made an incredible recovery and is living independently again in a brand-new Veteran’s community he loves.
“They helped me see what mattered to me more than what I saw what mattered to me,” said Steve of his care team. “I was in such a down place, I just felt like nothing was going to work out for me. They proved to me that things do work out.”
Read Steve’s amazing story at this link: https://bit.ly/42pg6ty
Celebrating Earth Day at the Historic, Healing Veteran’s Garden
 Last week, Veterans and visitors enjoyed an amazing Earth Day celebration at the Veteran’s Garden on the West LA VA campus!
Guests spent an afternoon of fun and relaxation painting rocks, watching gardening demos, learning mindfulness practices, enjoying a sound bath meditation and much more.
In a unique partnership between VA Whole Health, GrowGood and UCLA Health, the garden is currently undergoing a transformation into a regenerative farm that provides job training and nutritional education, and produces thousands of pounds of organic produce for food-insecure Veterans. (Stay tuned to our social media for more updates on this innovative project!)
Thanks to the partners mentioned above, and to University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program, for helping host such an enjoyable event.
Join the Fun Every Monday Afternoon at Bunker Social
 Have you been out to Bunker Social? Every Monday at West LA VA, you’re invited for an afternoon of connection and camaraderie!
Come eat lunch, listen to a live Veteran band, check out the new campus Peer Center, make friends, and just enjoy yourself! This fun, laid-back gathering happens on the patio outside Building 306. No need to RSVP, just show up between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This weekly event is hosted by The Veterans Collective, DAV, U.S.VETS, Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN) Goodwill SoCal, Music Mends Minds, the Hero’s Band, Heroes Golf Course, and many other dedicated community partners.
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall Is Now an Official Historic Landmark
 Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown LA is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places! Congratulations to our One Team partner LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA)!
This distinctive building has a storied history as a hub for Veterans and military families for the past century, and as an architectural and cultural landmark. During the Palisades Fire, vulnerable Veterans from the West LA VA campus were evacuated to Patriotic Hall and supported by staff from VA, MVA, Veterans Peer Access Network (VPAN), and the American Red Cross – just one example of the One Team partnership at work.
“We are proud to continue Bob Hope Patriotic Hall’s 100-year legacy of supporting the military, veterans, their families, caregivers and, survivors” said Jim Zenner, Director of MVA. “So much has changed over the decades, but our commitment to Veterans and their families has never - and will never waver.”
If you’ve never visited this remarkable place, go check it out! Patriotic Hall is located at 1816 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
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.
Did You Know?
Did you know that a VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and UCLA research team developed the first nicotine patch? In the 1980s, under Dr. Murray E. Jarvik, the team tested the patch on themselves, published a study on it in 1984, submitted the patent application in 1988, and received it in 1990. The rest is smoking cessation history!
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