As the COVID-19 pandemic challenges communities throughout Southern California, Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, (JFTB) and the California National Guard have stepped up to offer shelter from the storm to a number of military retirees and their families who recently found themselves homeless when they were instructed to leave local recreational vehicle parks on short notice.
An unintended consequence of a well-intentioned policy to limit the spread of COVID-19 left some semi-permanent RV-ers with short orders to leave local parks, though the question had not been contemplated as to where they were supposed to go.
“My parents are both Air Force veterans and watched many of their elderly veteran friends who were in tears wondering where they could go,” said Justine Cromer, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, whose father and mother – both with ongoing health challenges – were affected. “My father receives daily health care and my mother is recovering from surgery, but they were only given one week’s notice to leave, even though their rent was fully paid.”
Cromer reached out to California State Guard Brig. Gen. Denton Knapp, who also serves as the Director of the Tierney Center for Veterans Services, for Goodwill Orange County. She then engaged the office of Rep. Harley Rouda, of California’s 48th District, for assistance.
“I had first met Lt. Col. Cromer at the Tierney Center when she was a transitioning veteran looking to get involved with the community,” said Knapp. “She reached out for help with her parents’ situation, but we soon realized that there is a large population of older, retired veterans who make RV parks their year-round homes.”
Riding to the rescue, Knapp got in touch with U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mike Leeney, JFTB installation commander. The pair enlisted the assistance of Andy Law, the base’s non-appropriated funds general manager, and the situation was soon resolved. JFTB provided space for Cromer’s parents and two other families, and also facilitated