YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles X LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Partnership

We honor and celebrate those who have bravely served our country and the families that stand by them. Thank you for your service and sacrifice. As the Center for Community Well-Being, we are here to help provide resources, services, and opportunities to those who need it most — ensuring anyone in Los Angeles has access to the support they need. 

That’s why we’re so excited for our partnership with Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. 

Los Angeles County is home to one of the largest veteran populations of any county in the nation. Many never connect to the county services available to them. Benefits are spread across multiple agencies, many veterans don’t know what they qualify for, and some are reluctant to ask for help. This partnership addresses that gap by meeting veterans where they already live, work out, and bring their families, with fellow veterans there to guide them. 

Through this partnership, MVA’s Veteran Peer Access Network (VPAN), a network of veterans helping veterans, will hold regular outreach days at YMCA centers. VPAN peers and their partners will provide benefits screenings, referrals, and follow-ups on site. The Y adds food assistance, wellness and peer groups, membership access, family programs, and volunteer opportunities. In a single visit, a veteran can get help with benefits, groceries, a path to Y membership, a peer group, and a way to serve their community. 

Five Ways the Partnership Serves Veterans

• Outreach and Benefits Navigation: VPAN and Veterans Service Organization outreach days at Y centers, with benefits screenings, referrals, and follow-up.
• Food Security: A veteran referral pathway into Feed LA, the Y’s food assistance program, with priority intake and CalFresh coordination.
• Volunteerism: Volunteer placements in Y Youth Sports, Youth Institute, Youth and Government, and Feed LA, through MVA’s With Your Shield transition program.
• Wellness: Veteran-focused fitness and peer groups that complement VA and Department of Mental Health services.
• Healthy Living Access: Membership access for veteran and military families, with free and reduced-cost options under review.

MVA will also provide warm referrals to the Department of Public Social Services for CalFresh and to the Department of Mental Health’s Veterans and Military Family Services.

The partnership launches at 11 Y centers

Ann & Steven Hinchliffe San Pedro & Peninsula YMCA – 301 S Bandini Street San Pedro, CA 90731

YMCA familiar de Antelope Valley – 43001 Calle 10 Oeste Lancaster Oeste, CA 93534

YMCA de Burbank – 321 E Magnolia Boulevard Burbank, CA 91502

Crowell Family YMCA (South Pasadena) – 1605 Garfield Avenue South Pasadena, CA 91030

YMCA de Hollywood – 1553 N Schrader Boulevard Hollywood, CA 90028

Mid Valley Family YMCA (Van Nuys) – 6901 Lennox Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91405

North Valley Family YMCA (Porter Ranch) – 11336 Corbin Avenue Porter Ranch, CA 91326

YMCA Pasadena-Sierra Madre – 611 E Sierra Madre Boulevard Sierra Madre, CA 91024

YMCA Familiar de Santa Clarita Valley – Los programas se imparten fuera de las instalaciones de la escuela.

West Valley Family YMCA (Reseda) – 18810 Vanowen Street Reseda, 91335 CA

YMCA de Wilmington – 1127 N Avalon Boulevard Wilmington, 90744 CA