Grand Opening of Buildings 205 and 208

Buildings 205 and 208

Located on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Campus, Buildings 205 and 208 provide dual support to veterans experiencing chronic homelessness and serious mental health conditions. Permanent supportive housing is combined with comprehensive wraparound services to help provide the foundation for recovery and reintegration.

Buildings 205 and 208 will join the existing Building 209 as part of Step Up’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program on the campus. Between the three buildings, over 175 veterans will now have access to permanent housing and the support of rich wraparound services. The VASH team works directly with veterans to provide member-driven supportive services, including outreach, engagement, housing placement, and post-housing case management services such as physical and mental health services and life skills support.

Throughout Southern California, Step Up’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing currently provides housing and support for more than 200 veterans.

Buildings 205 and 208

The Makings of a Home

Buildings 205 and 208 will provide 122 units of permanent supportive housing exclusively for veterans. Units include fully furnished studio and one-bedroom homes ranging from 315 to 709 square feet, including units for persons with mobility, aural, or visual disabilities. Located on the beautiful West VA Campus, onsite amenities include indoor and outdoor community areas, bocce ball courts, laundry facilities, SmartTV, and paid WiFi and utilities.

About Step Up

Step Up delivers compassionate support to people experiencing serious mental health conditions, and those experiencing chronic homelessness, to help them recover, stabilize, and integrate into the community. Through dynamic partnerships, we provide positive social and learning environments, vocational training, permanent supportive housing opportunities, and recovery services to empower individuals to cultivate lives of hope and dignity.

Step Up serves Veterans, Transition-Age Youth (ages 18-28), unaccompanied women, families, and other individuals at multiple locations throughout the country including California, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Utilizing the Housing First Model, permanent supportive housing is provided as the first step of the recovery process, and accompanied by comprehensive case management and rich wraparound supports.

Step Up is an industry leading organization that exercises innovative leadership and advocacy to increase public understanding, support, and acceptance of all people living with serious mental health issues. We envision a world in which all individuals, families, and communities affected by serious mental health issues, and persons who are experiencing chronic homelessness will have the opportunity to experience recovery and a sense of belonging, and that permanent supportive housing will be available to everyone.

Jose’s Story

Marine Lance Corporal Jose served for three years in Desert Storm. Growing up in East Los Angeles, he dreamed of serving his country and being part of the military family. But from early on, he struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse.

Despite many attempts at recovery, Jose found himself wandering the streets, in and out of shelters on Skid Row. For six years he experienced homelessness, until finally Jose found the permanent housing and support he needed at Step Up. That support allowed him to build a strong foundation in his recovery.

“This program changed my life,” said Jose. “Now I have a great relationship with my daughter and my grandkids, I’m going back to school, and I love helping others who were in a similar situation as me. For the first time in a long time, I’m excited about the future!”

THANK YOU

This project would not have been possible without the support of our community partners.

The Don and Lorraine Freeberg Foundation

The Home Depot Foundation

The Conrad Hilton Foundation

W. M. Keck Foundation

The Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation

Stepping Up to Serve Our Communities

For the last 20 years, Commercial Bank of California has greatly focused on serving and investing in our communities Whether it's dedicating time, donating dollars or launching financial literacy programs, we're commited to empowering those communities

That's why we're proud to support Step Up to provide housing and supportive services for veterans facing chronic homelessness www cbcal com

GUESS proudly supports Step Up on Second and its commitment to ending homelessness and transforming lives. We are grateful that more veterans will be able to be housed and supported with the opening of the new Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing.

Paul Marciano Maurice Marciano