BRENTWOOD (CBSLA) — A large homeless encampment, better known as “Veterans Row,” located outside the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center near Brentwood, was in the process of being cleared out Monday.
The L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), along with several community groups, has been working on a transition and relocation program for those homeless veterans who live in the encampment, located along San Vincent Boulevard.
The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and L.A. Public Works Department began clearing the sidewalk at around 8 a.m. Monday.
Clearing the encampment was not solely about housing, but also about safety. In the last six months, there have been two homicides in the encampment. The goal was to avoid a repeat of the violent clashes when an encampment in Echo Park was cleared out back in March. So far Monday, the process was going along smoothly.
“We’re happy about it,” Navy veteran Scott Baty told CBSLA Monday. “Get out of here and get somewhere safe. I was assaulted maybe eight times out here. Slugged in the face, knocked out, it hasn’t been fun.”
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