Brentwood School sits both literally and symbolically on toxic ground.

The private institution occupies approximately 22 acres of land within the West Los Angeles VA Soldiers’ Home, despite charging tuition that now exceeds $50,000 per year. This land was not meant for private use. It was donated to the federal government for one explicit and permanent purpose: to serve as a home for disabled and homeless veterans.

Anything that does not principally benefit veterans on this land is federally illegal.

In 1888, multiple wealthy and influential families donated more than 900 acres in West Los Angeles and beachfront property in Santa Monica through legally binding deeds. These deeds required the land to be permanently maintained as a Soldiers’ Home for veterans who were disabled, injured, or without housing. The intent was unmistakable. Veterans were supposed to live there, rent free, with access to care and services that supported healing and dignity.

For decades, that promise was honored. Until the 1970s, between 2,000 and 5,000 disabled and homeless veterans lived on the West LA VA campus in buildings provided at no cost, supported by on-site services. Today, fewer than 200 disabled veterans live in VA housing rent free on that same land.

At the same time, Brentwood School serves roughly 2,000 students and staff each day on property that was never meant for private education, elite access, or profit. This is happening while Los Angeles remains the nation’s capital of veteran homelessness, with more than 4,000 veterans waking up on sidewalks, in cars, or on curbs every morning.

Veterans do not want holiday cards, hot dogs, or symbolic gestures.

They want their home back.

Homeless Veterans, the stakeholder of the Soldiers’ Home want the land that was given to them restored to its original purpose. They want housing, care, and dignity on land that was explicitly donated for their survival. Anything less is not only a moral failure, but a violation of the law and the promises made to those who served.

Imagine trying to justify a $50,000 a year private Brentwood School that violates the Law in our Nation. It is the Capital of Veteran Homelessness, intended to be on 900+ acres of land federally deed restricted. This land should be nothing but a permanent HOME for homeless and disabled Veterans.

Brentwood School

“Brentwood School. An illegal lease allowed the Brentwood School to continue using its
athletic facilities located on 21 acres of the West Los Angeles campus. The VA
reviewed this land-use agreement following the settlement of Valentini v. Shinseki.
They aimed to determine whether it could be made sufficiently veteran-focused.26 In
In November 2016, VA decided to continue its long-term relationship with the
Brentwood School. This was done by executing a 10-year lease.

Under this lease, the Brentwood
School was to pay $850,000 in annual rent and provide nonmonetary, in-kind
consideration valued at $918,000.27. The OIG determined the Brentwood School
lease violated the West Los Angeles Leasing Act. This was because the purpose was not to
principally benefit veterans and their families. Rather, the principal purpose of this
lease was to provide the Brentwood School with continued use of the athletic facilities.

The OIG also found that VA’s acceptance of nonmonetary, in-kind consideration is
not authorized under the law. The law requires VA to accept only monetary
consideration for the leasing of buildings or property of the federal government.28
Legally, nonprofit organizations like the Brentwood School can provide in-kind
consideration related to the maintenance, protection, and restoration of leased
property.29 However, the in-kind consideration the Brentwood School provided
included more than allowable maintenance of landscaping or physical structures
installed by the school.

Other in-kind consideration costs, such as additional staffing
and veteran special events, are not allowed under federal law.” from