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2024 ANNUAL REPORT

CALIFORNIA VETERANS COMMUNITY REPORT: 
Behavioral Health System Reform in Focus
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The California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Annual Report, an in-depth look at the pressing issues facing California’s veterans and the strides made to address them.

Read the full report here. 

Read the executive summary here.

The report provides critical insights into challenges such as homelessness, food insecurity, behavioral health, and veteran suicides while celebrating significant legislative victories and the impactful work of CAVSA member organizations. Key highlights include:

A remarkable 8% decrease in veteran homelessness nationwide, with California leading the charge with a reduction of 1,279 veterans.

Enhanced advocacy for mental health services, driven by Proposition 1, which allocates $1 billion to housing projects for veterans with behavioral health needs.

The success of community-focused programs, including Stand Down events, mental health summits, and local advocacy initiatives.

The report also evaluates county-level efforts through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Plans, highlighting best practices from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Cruz Counties, while identifying gaps in veteran-specific programming across other regions.

CAVSA’s 2024 Annual Report celebrates the remarkable contributions of its retiring founding members and Executive Director. It also highlights the organization’s 2025 advocacy priorities, including expanding housing access, improving mental health care, and bolstering substance abuse prevention programs.