Veterans

Tent set up on sidewalk covered with blue tarp and American flag on front next to fence to VA campus in West Los Angeles, California.

Trump's promise to house 6,000 homeless veterans on a Los Angeles VA campus missing from budget proposal

The president's proposed budget fails to include any funding for the proposed 'Center for Warrior Independence.'

June 1, 2026 - The Independent

Plaque with 'Department of Veterans Affairs' below plaque with seal.

Drop in Veteran Homelessness Offers Lessons

Bipartisan support, robust funding, and access to comprehensive data are keys to the success of programs that assist unhoused veterans.

April 2, 2025 - Next City

Close-up of Department of Veterans Affairs sign in Washington, D.C. with American and MIA flags on flagpole in background.

Disabled Veterans Gain Access to Supportive Housing Assistance

Disability benefits will no longer exclude veterans from supportive housing programs.

August 13, 2024 - Stars and Stripes

Line of tents with American flags draped on them on sidewalk in Los Angeles

Homelessness Among Veterans Drops Sharply

The number of unhoused vets fell by more than 50 percent since 2016, with significant gains made in the last two years.

November 7, 2022 - Military Times

Yellowstone

Veterans and Gold Star Families Can Now Visit National Parks for Free

A small token of gratitude to the veterans who fought to protect the freedoms of the United States, and the families who sacrificed everything.

November 11, 2020 - The Washington Post

Apartment renter

Fair Housing Bill Targets Voucher Discrimination

A bipartisan bill tackles landlords' unwillingness to rent to housing voucher holders.

November 21, 2018 - Housing Wire

Homelessness

Veteran Homelessness on the Rise Again in Expensive Cities

The news about veteran homelessness rising in expensive cities might come as a surprise, after years of reported progress.

November 12, 2018 - How Housing Matters

Southern California Coast

San Diego Called Out for Section 8 Housing Discrimination

San Diego was identified for its failure to enact a Section 8 housing discrimination ordinance in a recent American Bar Association article. Poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi explains the situation.

July 25, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Homeless

$2 Billion Bond Measure on California Ballot to House the Mentally Ill Homeless

The revenue bonds would be funded from a millionaires' surtax, approved by voters in 2004, to pay for health programs, but not housing, for the mentally ill. Also on ballot: a $4 billion general obligation bond measure to fund housing for veterans.

July 2, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Washington, D.C.

VA Reverses Course on Cuts to Popular Homeless Veterans Program

The Department of Veterans Affairs prompted outcry when it told advocates and its partners at the Department of Housing and Urban Development that it would cut $460 million for long-term housing for homeless veterans.

December 7, 2017 - The Washington Post

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Veterans Ride Free on Kansas City Buses

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has partnered with veterans group to provide free transit to the city's veterans.

March 24, 2017 - Kansas City Star

Jefferson park Blue Line Stop

Mixed-Income Development in Chicago's Jefferson Park Faces Protest

A development on Chicago's Northside faces protests and picketers who don't want new density, height, or low income residents.

March 1, 2017 - Chicago Reader

Fear of Low-Income Housing Blocks Veterans' Housing Project Near San Diego

In November, the city of Poway, California rejected a veterans' housing project. The story is informative for the way communities rally to obstruct the addition of low-income housing.

December 30, 2016 - Voice of San Diego

Motown Muster

Military Veterans Deploy to Detroit to Take on Blight-Busting Volunteer Work

A volunteer organization called The Mission Continues connects veterans with volunteer work around the country. The healing power of their efforts goes both ways.

June 30, 2016 - Fox 2

Vets Access Land Trust Homeownership

VA home loan guaranties and community land trusts are perfect partners—but not everyone knows that yet.

March 27, 2015 - Shelterforce

Without More Affordable Housing, Veteran Homelessness Will Return

Federal funding to end veteran homelessness has had a real impact, but a nationwide shortage of affordable housing could make its success temporary.

March 24, 2015 - Shelterforce

Implementing Housing Vouchers for Veterans

A look at what HUD-VASH supportive housing vouchers can do, from the perspective of one of the agencies administering them.

March 14, 2015 - Shelterforce

Don't Call Them Homeless Veterans!

Surprising insights on messaging from the front lines of NIMBY.

February 27, 2015 - Shelterforce

How to End Homelessness? Start—and Finish—With Veterans

We are so close to this goal. We should not change our focus before we meet it.

February 18, 2015 - Shelterforce

New Orleans First U.S. City to End Veteran Homelessness

New Orleans declares that it is the first U.S. city to virtually end veteran homelessness.

January 21, 2015 - Gambit

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.