Photos

Juventino Gomez, a Vietnam veteran and El Monte councilman, who championed the project from start to finish, addresses veterans, active duty, elected officials and guests during the grand opening ceremony of the El Monte Veterans Village in El Monte, Calif. on March 12, 2014. Officials with the city hosted the celebration for the first affordable housing community specifically for homeless veterans. The $12 million project includes 40 furnished studio apartments with private balconies. It also includes community-gathering spaces — a community room with a kitchen and lounge area, a computer center, on-site laundry facility, energy efficient design and appliances, community garden, barbecue area and an outdoor stone fireplace.