The Office of Veterans Support  

The History of the Long Beach Veterans Commission 

The Long Beach Veterans Commission was established in 2017 and housed in the City’s Department of Health and Human Services to:

• Honor Veterans’ service and highlight the many achievements of those who have dedicated their lives to protecting the country.
• Serve as an advisory board to the City Council regarding the well-being of military Veterans in Long Beach.
• Provide recommendations on all matters pertaining to the affairs of Veterans residing within the City.
• Evaluate and recommend programs, policies, and practices to assist Veterans in multiple capacities.
• Act as a central clearing house for information, programs and services relating to Veterans in the Long Beach community.

The Veterans Commission was tasked with completing a Veterans Strategic Plan to serve as a guiding document, a blueprint of sorts, to coordinate the City’s efforts to serve those who have served our country. In its Veterans Strategic Plan, completed and presented to Council in March 2022, the Veterans Commission recommended that the City establish an Office of Veterans Support to provide the infrastructure to carry out the goals, objectives and strategies identified in the plan. Accordingly, the Office of Veterans Support (OFV) was established in October 2022. 

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OFFICE OF VETERANS SUPPORT FAQs

• WHAT DOES THE OFFICE OF VETERANS SUPPORT DO?

  The Office of Veterans Support will carry out the goals, objectives and strategies identified in the Veterans Strategic Plan. Here are the four main goals of the Veterans Strategic Plan.

  Goal 1: Long Beach recognizes Veterans for their strengths, as valued members of our community, and regularly celebrates and honors them.

  Goal 2: Veteran-serving organizations and agencies coordinate well to ensure that Veterans successfully transition from military service to civilian life.

  Goal 3: Veterans readily access the resources and services they need in the areas of housing, education, employment, and mental and physical health and well-being post-transition and throughout their lifetimes.

  Goal 4: Veterans who are precariously housed or who are experiencing homeless have access to affordable housing and the supportive services they need to remain housed.

• WHO IS THE COMMISSIONER FOR MY COUNCIL DISTRICT?

  The Commission comprises nine members, one for each Council District:

  Jesse Blanco, District 1
  Mike Shaknovich, District 2
  Kenneth Osborn, District 3
  Josh “Smitty” Smith, District 4
  Vacant, District 5
  Lance Santiago, District 6
  Ryan Antes, District 7
  Sylvia N. Contreras, District 8
  Juanita Doplemore, District 9

• WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?

  Gina Overholt
  Office of Veterans Support Coordinator
  Phone: (562) 570-4035
  veterans@longbeach.gov