The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued a historic ruling Tuesday, largely affirming a landmark federal court ruling that required the Department of Veterans Affairs to build housing for unhoused and disabled veterans in Los Angeles. While not a total win for the veterans in the class-action suit, the complex decision may prove to be consequential in eliminating veteran homelessness across the country.
The ruling, issued eight months after a three-judge panel heard arguments by the Department of Justice in its appeal of Powers v. McDonough, opens the door for disabled service members nationwide to bring legal action against the VA for access to housing. “This class action lawsuit, and its numerous appeals, demonstrates just how far the VA has strayed from its mission,” writes Judge Ana de Alba in her opinion. The VA did not provide comment for this story by deadline.
“No court in the history of the country has ever issued a decision like this,” said the veterans’ counsel Mark Rosenbaum in a press briefing Wednesday morning.