The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System to Institute New Safety Protocols for CTRS Residents

The new safety protocols are being phased in and go into full effect on November 1.

VAGLAHS is instituting new Standard Operating Procedures and Code of Conduct, while making physical improvements to the temporary shelter site following a fire that occurred at CTRS in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 9. There were no injuries reported, however, 12 temporary shelter units were destroyed and an additional 10 were damaged.

Twenty-one Veterans and one partner/spouse were impacted. All were contacted by VA staff and new housing arrangements were made for all those who wished to continue receiving services from VA. VA staff and Veteran Service Organizations responded quickly and assisted with securing replacement documents lost in the fire, clothing, food, water, personal hygiene products, and other items.

The new protocols set storage limitations on hazardous materials and limit activities that pose safety hazards. All areas for egress will be cleared to prevent a fire from spreading.  Prohibited items include:

• Firearms, ammunition, mace type products or weapons of any type
• Illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia
• Intoxicating beverages
• Flammable objects such as the following:
  • No electrical extension cords anywhere, devices should be plugged in directly to the outlet provided.
  • No hot plates, space heaters, toasters and other appliances with an open heating element.
  • No battery charging, except cell phones inside of units.
  • No combustibles (paper, boxes, cloth, etc.) or storage in between units. All areas should be clear for egress, to prevent a fire from spreading to additional units.
  • No charging of electric scooters and bikes inside the pallet shelter area.
  • No gas operated equipment such as generators allowed on site.
  • No hoarding of flammable objects or excessive storage beyond the two bins allowed within units.

Since the fire, the VAGLAHS has made considerable improvements, with some planned for the near future.

• New smoke alarms were installed in each shelter unit. Plans are in place to provide tamper-proof alarms.
• A secured bicycle storage area and electric bike charging station were installed at the entrance to CTRS, adjacent to security personnel for proper monitoring.
• Widening and repaving of CTRS main access road to better accommodate emergency vehicles.
• VA is installing two fire hydrants closer to CTRS. While current fire hydrants are placed within the appropriate distance, in accordance with local fire code, these new hydrants will provide greater fire suppression coverage.
• all areas for egress will be cleared to prevent a fire from spreading.
• Creation of overflow storage area to keep common areas free of Veterans’ personal belongings.

Plans for additional staffing and contract property monitor service staff are also on the way with multiple positions in recruitment on USA Jobs and temporary details assigned to supplement CTRS staff.

CTRS provides high-risk unhoused Veterans with healthcare, social work, and a safe and stable place to reside throughout the process of placing them into transitional or permanent housing.

The program was launched in April 2020 during the height of the COVID pandemic to provide Veterans a safer, structured environment to protect their health and connect them to services. The program’s goal is to improve unsheltered Veterans’ healthcare outcomes in a harm reduction environment, while moving participants toward permanent housing solutions.

The CTRS program is part of the Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS), which is the largest VA homeless program in the country serving five counties in the Greater Los Angeles catchment area covering 20,000 square miles.

VA is committed to providing innovative and effective care and services that meet unhoused Veterans’ complex needs and ending Veteran homelessness.