Arnold Schwarzenegger handed over $250,000 to Village for Vets on a cold December morning, funding 25 tiny shelters on the Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles. The nonprofit, which works closely with the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System, used the money to buy structures that each feature a roof, climate control, a lockable door and a comfortable bed.
Team Rubicon volunteers erected the shelters by early December, turning a patch of concrete into a makeshift refuge for veterans who have spent months on the streets. When Schwarzenegger toured the site before Christmas, he spoke with residents, including Bruce Henry Cooper, who called the shelters a "life‑saver".
Village for Vets said the donation sparked more than $100,000 from 120 new donors, boosting its capacity to expand the Tiny Shelter Program. "We’re now able to look beyond temporary housing and plan for permanent solutions," said program director Maya Patel.
The nonprofit will use the new funds to secure longer‑term housing for veterans, but for now the 25 shelters remain a crucial stopgap. Village for Vets plans a follow‑up audit in February to assess the shelters’ usage and determine next steps toward permanent housing.