LA County is working to fast-track veterans into government jobs. This move is being made following a motion introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda Solis and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors last month. The motion specifically recommends LA County explore a variety of different ways to improve support for veterans, such as, a fast-track hiring program to put veterans (including veterans without homes) and their spouses into government jobs, as well as providing County Veterans Services Officers to help connect them with vital social services. The motion also asks LA County administrators to lobby the government to increase financial support for key veteran services.
Providing much-needed Support for Veterans
“We owe the nearly 250,000 veterans living in our county much more than a debt of gratitude for their service,” Solis said. “We need to make sure they have the services and support that they need throughout their civilian life as well as for their families. This is a national issue that we have to address together.” Transitioning from military to civilian life can indeed be challenging for veterans. Over 72% of veterans say they found the adjustment easy, while 27% say it was difficult (with this number growing to 44% among veterans who served in the decade following 9/11). Additionally, around 26% of veterans also live with a service-related disability, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals. These veterans are also much more likely to work for the government (19% of veterans with a disability work federal jobs, compared to just 9% of veterans without disabilities). Fortunately, the VA also provides disability support for veterans who got injured or became sick during service. An objective criteria is used to give each disability a disability rating, which in turn determines the amount of tax-free compensation awarded each month.
Photo by Kevin Mccartney
Serving Minority and Underrepresented Veterans
The motion is also positioned to amp up services for minority and underrepresented veterans throughout the county, Barger further comments. Specifically, this includes support for LGBTQ, female, and older veterans, as well as veterans with disabilities and without housing. It’s also set to help veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans who were dismissed after experiencing sexual trauma during their service, or those given Other Than Honorable Discharges under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policies. In the past, LGBTQ veterans have commonly been discharged under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policies (in fact, around 100,000 veterans either left or were forced out of the military due to their sexual orientation over the past 7 years), while transgender veterans were even banned from service altogether under a policy approved by former President Donald Trump – certain benefits were also withheld from these veterans, something which the also new motion seeks to change.
“Local government has a role to play in serving veterans,” Barger said. Indeed, it’s hoped this new motion will be set to provide comprehensive support for veterans in-need across LA County in the near future.
Feature photo by Tanya Patxot
