Newsom Marks Veterans Day With California Investment Rundown: Over $10.5 Billion Since 2019 for Nearly 1.5 Million Veterans
California — On Veterans Day, November 11, the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom released a rundown of California's support for veterans since 2019: more than $10.5 billion invested across state government in housing, mental health care, long-term care and benefits access, serving the nearly 1.5 million veterans who call California home and their families. The release was issued from Antalya, Türkiye, where Newsom was traveling.
"California has more military bases, more active duty, among the largest National Guard, and one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, and we're determined to show up for each and every one of them," Newsom said. "From expanding housing and healthcare to protecting hard-earned benefits, we've made significant investments to strengthen the systems that serve our veterans and their families. This work is about more than what we've accomplished today. It's about building a California that continues to stand behind its veterans for generations to come."
On housing, the Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program has financed over 6,500 housing units, including 3,418 designated for veterans; 57 Homekey+ projects have created almost 3,000 affordable homes, with over 800 reserved for veterans; and the CalVet Home Loan Program has helped nearly 450,000 veterans purchase homes. A new pilot program pairs permanent supportive housing with nursing care, behavioral health services and medication management for veterans aged 55 and older who are homeless or at risk.
On health, Proposition 1, approved by voters in 2024, includes a $6.4 billion behavioral health bond for housing, services and treatment. The California Veterans Health Initiative, established in 2022, set a goal of 100,000 free mental health appointments over three years regardless of age, period of service, discharge status or disability rating; as of October 2026, participating organizations were averaging more than 5,500 no-cost clinical appointments each quarter. The state is also investing $4.7 million to improve veteran access to clinical trials for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
On long-term care, the eight CalVet-operated Veterans Homes serve more than 1,500 residents, and the CalVet Electronic Health Record system has been deployed across all eight homes. A new 240-bed skilled nursing and memory care facility is under construction at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville, replacing the current Depression-era building.
On benefits, the statewide assistance network helped file more than 317,000 claims in fiscal year 2025-26, generating an estimated $736 million in new or increased federal benefits; the California Transition Assistance Program has served more than 12,000 veterans, and more than 800 veterans and family members have been helped toward naturalized citizenship. On education, the statewide Credit for Prior Learning push is expected to benefit 250,000 people, including 30,000 veterans, and a new state tax break lets military retirees and surviving spouses exclude up to $20,000 of retirement income each year.
"Veterans and their families deserve a system of care that recognizes their experiences, understands their needs, and supports them throughout their lives," said California Veterans Affairs Secretary Lindsey Sin. Information on support services is available at calvet.ca.gov.
Related: Newsom Proclaims November 11 as Veterans Day in California, Citing $1 Billion in Veterans Housing
(Source: Office of the Governor of California)
Source: Office of the Governor of California
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于 Sacramento 的加州议会大厦。照片：Andre m 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The California State Capitol in Sacramento. Photo by Andre m, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
