CALIFORNIA VETERANS HOME

LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA

On Friday November 20th the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) held Opening Ceremonies for its newest Veterans Home.  The new Veterans Home is located in Lancaster California and has been named the "William Pete Knight Veterans Home of California".  On December 4th the CDVA will hold a dedication for its other new home in Ventura, California.

With the two new Veterans Homes that will bring a total of 5 Veterans Homes that will be open for veterans in California.  Another New Veterans Home is scheduled to be open in Los Angeles during the summer of 2010.  In addition funding and plans are already in work for two additional Veterans Homes in Fresno, California and Redding, California which will open in 2-3 years.  The other Veterans Homes are located in Barstow, California, Chula Vista, California and Yountville, California.

The CDVA encourages all eligible veterans to apply for admission.  Below are the basic qualifications for admission:

1.  You are age 62 or over, or you have a significant disability.
2.  You served in the military and you were Honorably Discharged.
3.  You are still able to live independently or you qualify for a higher level of  care offered at one of the Homes (contact the Home for clarification on quality for a higher level of care).
4.  You are a California resident.
5.  You are able to live with and get along with other people in a structured communal environment.
6.  You must be participating in a qualified federal, state or private health service plan, a United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical program, or have an application pending for such coverage.  A non-veteran application must be participating in a qualified federal, state, state or private health service plan to be admitted to the Home.

More information on the admission process can be found on line by going to www.cdva.ca.gov .  Also if you need information or have questions on the application process, you can call the Veterans homes directly at:

Barstow Admission Office         780-252-8315 or 800-746-0606
Chula Vista Admission Office     888-857-2146
Lancaster Admission Office        661-477-5829
Ventura Admission Office           805-765-5601
Yountville Admission Office        800-400-8387

Jake Alarid, Member California Veterans Board Member
AGIF Past National Commander