The Veterans Affairs Department is opening a new treatment center for homeless veterans in San Diego, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
San Diego is one of five cities to receive a "domiciliary care" grant, which will provide $33 million over five years to strengthen health services for homeless veterans. The grants also aim to establish programs to help younger veterans return to civilian life.
The other cities receiving funds are Atlanta, Denver, Miami and Philadelphia.
Filling a Gap in Care
Currently, San Diego's VA physicians can admit homeless veterans to a local hospital for 10 days or refer them to subsidized housing, but they cannot provide residential treatment.
The city's new 40-bed rehabilitation center will focus on serving chronically homeless veterans with alcohol, drug and psychological problems. The facility will offer services for up to one year.
Officials have yet to choose a location for the facility, which is scheduled to open in early 2012 (Steele, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/12).