VECTORS evicted

A local nonprofit organization that helps homeless veterans is soon to be homeless itself. VECTORS (Veterans Executive Committee to Organize Rehabilitative Services) is being evicted from its current location at 252 East First St. The organization gives away food and clothing and enables homeless veterans to receive mail and benefits.

Amidst packed boxes of donations and couches being carried into a rented moving van, VECTORS director Steve Longoria said the nonprofit was served with an eviction notice after an eight-year tenancy. The VECTORS folks believe they are being evicted because the veterans that frequent their office are considered undesirable by the owners and neighbors. Building owner Ramona Peters said the eviction was amicable. She feels the space isn’t appropriate for the services it provides.

“It’s an office building,” she said. “It’s a very small space, and it’s very crowded on cold days. At times, some of them [veterans] have slept there.”

Longoria said the services provided are especially important to the veterans who are transient or homeless and frequent downtown. It’s often their only access to mail and a telephone. Peters said, “We didn’t especially like the way the space was used at times. Some of these people like to be downtown, but it’s just one of those things.”

New tenants Long Beach Mortgage Company will be occupying the corner office space, but Peters is unsure if they will take over the newly vacated space next door as well. “We’re unsure how the space is going to be used,” Peters said.

VECTORS’ outreach offices will be temporarily located at the Jerry L. Knight Transitional Living Facility (a transitional home for veterans) on 171 Rio Lindo Ave. The office phone number of 343-3040 will stay the same during the search for a new location. Assistant Director Tom Nahm said many veterans rely on the services provided, which include phone and computer time for job searching.

“We’re going to need a space to fill that need,” he said.

Possibilities for a permanent location include the Veterans Memorial Hall, located on The Esplanade.