An Oasis for Healing

A new transitional shelter program managed by New Directions for Veterans is providing women who have suffered trauma with a safe and supportive place to heal, regroup, and address the issues that led them to being unhoused.

The OASIS for Women Veterans program opened in May on the West Los Angeles VA and currently has the capacity to serve up to 18 women Veterans who are fully healthcare eligible. The facility is unique in that it solely serves women. Some of the residents may have experienced Military Sexual Trauma and struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. For that reason, no male clients are admitted to the facility. There is an all-women staff of qualified case managers and a private, secured entrance providing another layer of comfort and care.

“In talking with our female Veterans, we wanted to make sure this was a place that women would feel comfortable and safe,” said Vanessa Bui, a licensed clinical social worker and liaison for Health Care for Homeless Veterans at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. “A lot of women do not feel comfortable in a shared living space, or ones which are also shared by men. At OASIS, it is women only, and being located on the VA campus makes it easier for these women to access the healthcare they need.”

The OASIS program helps fulfill the VA mission to provide more housing resources at the West Los Angeles VA for specific categories of vulnerable Veterans, including chronically homeless, disabled, aging and women Veterans with dependents.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a history of military sexual trauma, lack of access to VA benefits and other financial resources, and single or divorced marital status were significant risk factors for women Veterans’ housing stability.

“Female Veterans are more likely to be underserved then their male counterparts when it comes to housing, programs, and services. OASIS addresses those issues and other barriers head-on, so Veterans get the assistance and housing that they deserve,” said Leo Cuadrado, New Directions for Veterans executive director.

Each OASIS resident is assigned to a bedroom that could be shared with one other woman Veteran. Program participants also are assigned a case manager and provided with one-on-one therapy sessions, meals, career counseling, and computer access for resume building and staying connected with friends and family. For those who need it, there is help addressing drug or alcohol addiction. New Directions and VA have also added art classes, meditation, and yoga therapies. VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System continues to collaborate with community partners to provide more services and programming for OASIS residents.

Residents of OASIS have the option of living onsite for up to six months as they transition into permanent supportive housing via the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

“At the end of their stay with us, we want them to have the capacity to create a budget for themselves, have a job, if that is what they want and are able to do, and maintain their lifestyle,” Bui said. “A lot of Veterans accessing the program are from out of state and were unprepared for the high cost of living in LA. From day one we start talking with them about being realistic about what their goals are and assist them in achieving those goals.”

The Veterans are provided with transportation to help get them to and from medical appointments, and other meetings they may have along their housing journey.

Thus far, all women Veterans living at OASIS since its opening have remained on site and are progressing towards living independently, which Bui considers a fabulous first step.

“They gave me hope when I was hopeless and opened their doors to provide me with the stable environment that I needed to overcome the overwhelming obstacles that had placed into my life,” a current OASIS resident said.

Each resident is assigned a shared room. They have access to outdoor space and a communal living room to relax, read, watch TV, or engage in conversation with their neighbors.

“With other programs it can be somewhat of a revolving door, but at OASIS our female Veterans get individual attention, and we’ve made it a very homey place, very nice compared to some of the other, more sterilized environments. That’s very important because they remained engaged, getting the care they need,” Bui said.

If you are interested in learning more about OASIS, or would like to refer someone who qualifies, please call 310-345-2642. To be eligible, residents must be single, women Veterans who are VA healthcare eligible and must be able to complete all activities of daily living without assistance. Residents must also have a desire and willingness to engage in weekly case management services and obtain permanent housing by the end of program length of stay.