Homeless Advocate Receives VA Award

WASHINGTON, D.C — A long-time Los Angeles advocate for the homeless, Senior Judge Harry Pregerson of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, has received an award of appreciation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for creating partnerships that improve the lives of homeless veterans.

“Few, if any, Americans have done as much to improve the lives of our fellow veterans,” said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober in a presentation today at VA headquarters.

At 77, the oldest active judge in the circuit, Pregerson has used his judicial positions since 1972 to create organizations that provide housing, employment and rehabilitation services for homeless people.

As U.S. District Court Judge in Los Angeles at that time, Pregerson ensured construction of 3,800 affordable dwelling units to replace homes removed to build the I-105 Century Freeway. He oversaw the housing program under a consent decree from 1972 to 1995. Now operated by a corporation with nearly 8,000 units in Los Angeles County, the program continues to develop affordable housing.

In 1988, Pregerson started the Bell Homeless Shelter at a federal supply center in Bell, Calif., a shelter which today provides a full array of social services to more homeless people in East Los Angeles than all other shelters combined. One-third of Bell Shelter’s clients are veterans.

The Century Freeway Housing Program consent decree also provided funds to acquire the Westside Residence Hall, formerly a Northrup University dormitory in Inglewood. About 500 formerly homeless veterans live in the largest housing and employment center for homeless veterans in the country. VA provides an array of social services at the Hall.

Harry Pregerson partnered with charities, veterans groups, labor, the federal General Services Administration and Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley in 1989 to start the Westwood Transitional Village in West Los Angeles. The Village houses formerly homeless families in furnished apartments, with preference given to veterans’ families. In 1994, Pregerson helped start the Salvation Army’s Haven Program at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The program arranges housing and provides support services for more than 200 homeless veterans.

Recently, the jurist helped bring together local law enforcement authorities, judges and county officials to create a “homeless court.” The court can clear an offender’s record of minor violations, providing an incentive to complete a rehabilitation program and return to a productive life.

Another program the judge worked on identifies veterans among inmates at the Los Angeles County jail. The veterans receive education and rehabilitation services while in custody and, upon release, help with job placement or transportation to a shelter.

During the battle of Okinawa in World War II, Pregerson received severe wounds. He became an active member of the Disabled American Veterans organization. A native of East Los Angeles, after military service Pregerson completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of California at Los Angeles. He received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Pregerson had a private law practice before joining President Lyndon Johnson’s presidential campaign in 1964. He served as a judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court and Superior Court before Johnson appointed him in 1967 to the U.S. District Court.