One Year, 1,000 Veterans: How the Peer Center Is Creating a Community at West LA VA

As more Veterans started to move onto the campus, a critical question emerged: how do we build a true sense of community? The answer came in the form of VA’s first Peer Center – a supportive, shared space led by Veteran Peer Specialists that recently celebrated its first anniversary.

Offering Veteran-led programs, events, and connections to resources, the Peer Center provides a place for Veterans to relax, engage, and most importantly – create community. 

“The Peer Center is a great resource for any Veteran; you don’t have to live here,” said Marine Corps Veteran William Garcia, a campus resident and frequent visitor to the Peer Center who volunteers with multiple Veterans Service Organizations. “It’s such a positive place and we’re working together as a community to help it grow.”

In its first year, the Peer Center served more than 1,000 Veterans and family members, drew an average of 25 Veteran visitors daily, hosted 30+ events with community partners, launched over a dozen ongoing programs – and they’re just getting started. 

Paying It Forward at the Peer Center

Stop by the Peer Center on any given day and you might run into Garcia. 

Garcia started the journey to rebuild his life at the West LA VA Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program on March 5, 2024. Now, less than a year later, Garcia lives in permanent supportive housing for Veterans on campus and spends his time volunteering with nonprofits including Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 5. 

Garcia has been involved with the Peer Center since the very beginning, even helping to brainstorm its creation. Now, he’s always willing to lend a hand and help fellow Veterans access the resources they need. 

“I changed my life from it [the Peer Center] in a way,” he said. “It’s been helping me mature, it’s been giving me leadership skills; I’m learning how to help a lot more people.”

Garcia said he first came to the campus with the goal of finding his purpose. And now, he has: networking and assisting other Veterans. Since he’s been in the fitness industry for 20 years, he even started and ran a MotivFit program last year, where Veterans could practice mindfulness, exercise, and break bread together. 

For Sally Hammitt, Interim Deputy Medical Center Director for VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, it’s been a joy to watch the Peer Center change and grow.  

“The impact of peer support cannot be overstated,” she said. “When you have people staffing the Peer Center who have also shared the same journey as Veterans who come in ... it creates really powerful results. Now, Veterans truly have a place to call their own.”

Opening Doors & Increasing Impact

With hundreds of Veteran apartments currently open on the West LA VA campus and many more planned as part of the National Center for Warrior Independence, the Peer Center has become an increasingly important anchor for community and connection for Veteran residents and visitors over the last year. 

It’s a thriving example of a One Team partnership between VA and its community partners, explained Hammitt. “Not only do you have Veterans serving Veterans, but we also have the power of One Team – our amazing partners all coming together to support one another, host events, and really listen to what Veterans want,” said Hammitt.

The Peer Center was developed and created by VA, LA County’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA), Veterans Peer Access Network, The Veterans Collective, DAV, Village for Vets, and numerous other community organizations. All work together to staff and support the Peer Center. 

Not only that, the Peer Center is guided by a Veteran Community group that meets monthly to discuss issues, concerns, and programming; and a Veteran-led Steering Committee. 

“One thing that’s so special about this place is that the decisions made about the Peer Center are largely driven by the Veterans using the Peer Center,” said Hammitt. “We’re not guessing – we’re asking them what they need.” 

There’s a lineup of more than 12 regular programs and activities, created primarily by Veterans who come to the Peer Center. It includes a women Veterans’ social group, a movie night, a monthly coffee social with the VA Police Department, a computer support class – and many others. 

And Veterans are always welcome to bring their new ideas to the table. “If you have an idea, you’re more than welcome to inquire and see if you can start something,” said Garcia.

“All Veterans deserve a place where they feel welcome and respected,” said MVA Director and Army Veteran Jim Zenner. “The Peer Center removes barriers and creates connection, regardless of service era or discharge status. This first year has established a strong foundation for continued partnership and ensuring no Veteran is left behind.”

A Powerful Partnership

Navy Veteran and Peer Specialist Keith Mahone has been working at the Peer Center for 11 months. Having previously experienced homelessness himself, Mahone learned how to navigate the system to maximize available resources. Now he shares that information with other Veterans in need. 

Over the past year, Mahone has seen the Peer Center become a place Veterans know they can rely on.

“When a Veteran walks in, they’ll automatically be met by a Peer that’s in a positive and hopeful mood,” said Mahone. From there, the Peer Specialist will help the Veteran with whatever they need, whether it’s food and clothing, computer assistance, a calendar of events, or questions about resources – you name it.  

Having a strong, positive team working together to run the center makes all the difference, said Mahone. 

“The Peer Center has made a tremendous impact over the past year,” added Elizabeth Brett, Veteran Peer Center Clinical Lead and Veterans Justice Program Coordinator for VAGLAHS. “Veterans living in emergency, transitional, and permanent housing on campus now have a safe place where they can connect with their peers.”

Since the Peer Center is designed for and by Veterans – and all Veterans are welcome there, regardless of service era or discharge status – it provides a truly supportive environment focused on their well-being, she added.

Mahone and the other Peers see that firsthand.

“The Veterans coming in they let us know they appreciate that we are here,” said Mahone. “It makes us feel we are needed.”

The Future Is Bright

Peer Specialist staff, leadership, and Veterans who come to the Peer Center all express hope for its expansion in the future. They hope for more staff, more programming, and the ability to serve even more Veterans. 

“The Peer Center decreases isolation and allows Veterans to have a sense of family,” said Hammitt. “It demonstrates what’s possible when Veterans are empowered to support each other in a space built on trust, belonging, and shared experience. I’m excited about what’s in store for the future.”

When asked what his favorite part of the Peer Center is, Garcia had an easy answer. The camaraderie. 

“I go there, we talk,” he said. “If I need help with something, they help, and if they don’t have the answers, somebody else does. We’re all willing to help each other out.”

The Peer Center is located at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90073, Building 306 on the north campus. It’s open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. All Veterans are welcome.