LOS ANGELES – Veterans have filed a landmark class-action lawsuit demanding that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provide permanent housing for thousands of homeless vets on or around its West Los Angeles campus.
The trial for the lawsuit kicked off on Tuesday and veterans say it could have national implications.
After living 10 years on the streets, combat veteran Robert Canas now has a place to call home on the West Los Angeles VA campus. While his living situation has improved significantly, he worries about his friend who lost a leg in Afghanistan and had been turned away from VA housing.
“He is too disabled,” Canas said.
Due to disability income restrictions set by the VA’s third-party contractors, it has already been ruled discriminatory by the judge. Now, a civil trial will decide what to do about it.