Issues
Veterans
More than 2,000 military personnel return home to California each month. Many return home with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injuries or other serious injuries. And many find it almost impossible to find permanent housing, good jobs and the support services they require.
With so many service members returning to California, it is more important than ever to fulfill our fundamental commitment to provide California’s military personnel and veterans with the services they require and deserve. We as Californians must demand that our state provides the best health care, opportunities for good-paying jobs, quality education and affordable housing to our service veterans.
The grandson of a veteran who survived the infamous Bataan Death March, Mayor Gavin Newsom has worked to make sure another generation of service veterans are not victims of addiction, despair and homelessness – and are instead provided the benefits they have earned. While resources are limited at the local level, Newsom has prioritized housing and employment services for local veterans.
Local Hire Incentives: In 2008, Mayor Newsom introduced legislation to expand payroll tax credits to include benefits for San Francisco businesses that hire service veterans. The expansion of the local payroll tax credit was modeled after the expanded statewide program and has enlisted a variety of local businesses in the incentive program.
Local Funding for Homeless Veterans: According to San Francisco’s homeless count, an estimated 20% of the city’s homeless population are veterans. In 2008, Mayor Newsom secured federal funding to help homeless veterans in San Francisco find housing. The funding was directed toward housing assistance and support services with the goal of helping veterans find permanent housing.
Veterans Connect: In a public-nonprofit partnership with local organizations Swords to Ploughshares and Project Homeless Connect, Mayor Newsom helped pioneer Veterans Connect, a daylong event to offer homeless veterans and their families access to medical treatment, dental care, housing information and food.
Join Our Policy Team: Gavin Newsom believes that the best plan is a better idea. If you would like to share your ideas and insights on how to reshape California's Veterans policy, please email us at issues@gavinnewsom.com.
