Vietnam Veterans Of San Diego Inc

What Vietnam Veterans Of San Diego Inc does

Vietnam Veterans of San Diego Inc, operating as Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit veterans service organization founded in 1981 in San Diego, California by five Vietnam veterans. The organization operates a comprehensive continuum of programs addressing veteran homelessness, addiction, unemployment, and barriers to health and mental health care. Its service portfolio includes emergency, transitional, and permanent housing (including a 52-unit Vet Villas permanent supportive housing complex in Escondido and an 80-bed licensed alcohol and drug rehabilitation center at its Pacific Highway headquarters), the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) rapid-rehousing program, workforce development and employment training, the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic network (three California sites plus statewide telehealth), the Homeless Court legal-resolution program, the annual Stand Down resource event, a 22-bed Safe Haven harm-reduction facility operated in partnership with Episcopal Community Services, and clothing/vehicle donation programs. All services are free to eligible veterans with documented honorable or general discharge status.

VVSD runs its operations across five San Diego County locations and serves more than 3,000 veterans annually; through its Cohen Clinic expansion it also reaches veterans in Oceanside and greater Los Angeles. The organization is the only residential licensed drug rehabilitation program for homeless veterans in San Diego County and is the originator of the Stand Down model (1988) and Homeless Court model (2001), both now replicated at 200+ sites nationwide. VVSD is led by President & CEO Akilah Templeton (since 2020) with a staff of more than 200 and a board comprising veterans from SEAL Team ONE, the Navy JAG Corps, TOPGUN graduates, and Marine Corps officers. Revenue is generated through federal/state/local government grants (VA, HUD, San Diego County, City of San Diego), private donations, corporate Stand Down sponsorships ($500–$25,000 tiers), vehicle donations processed via Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS), and planned giving; specific revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization holds no proprietary technology platforms and has no recorded AI, M&A, or external investment activity.

Name

Vietnam Veterans Of San Diego Inc

Legal name

Vietnam Veterans Of San Diego Inc

Website

https://vvsd.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Vietnam Veterans of San Diego Inc (dba Veterans Village of San Diego) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1981, that provides housing, mental health, employment, legal, and support services to more than 3,000 homeless and at-risk veterans annually across five San Diego County locations and three Cohen Clinic sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Social Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAHAL

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Defense & National Security

SECONDARYBPAIAKAI

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Social Security, Benefits & Welfare Administration

SECONDARYHLADADAA

Short-Term Rehabilitation (Post-Acute) SNFs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Elder Care & Long-Term Care/Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) & Nursing Homes

Keywords

• Veteran housing services
• Veteran mental health
• Veteran rehabilitation programs
• Homeless veteran support
• Veteran workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: VVSD receives government grants from federal, state, and local agencies including VA, HUD, and County programs. These grants support housing, mental health, employment, and supportive services but do not cover full operational costs.
2. Private Donations: Individual monetary donations through online portal, mail, text-to-donate (TEXT 41444 = 4AVET), and in-kind donations of clothing, household items, and vehicle donations.
3. Vehicle Donations: Partnership with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS) for vehicle donation program generating revenue through sale of donated vehicles.
4. Planned Giving: Bequests, charitable gift annuities, payable-on-death bank accounts, life estate gifts, and other estate planning vehicles.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Stand Down event sponsorships ranging from $500 (One Star) to $25,000 (Medal of Honor) providing brand visibility and community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

VVSD provides a comprehensive continuum of free veteran support services including emergency, transitional, and permanent housing; licensed residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation; mental health therapy through the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics; workforce development and employment placement; legal resolution via the Homeless Court Program; and supportive services for veteran families (SSVF). Operations are centered on a main 80-bed rehabilitation campus in San Diego with four additional sites across the county.

Product overview

Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD) is a nonprofit veterans service organization offering a comprehensive continuum of programs to help veterans overcome homelessness, addiction, unemployment, and barriers to health and mental health care. The organization provides housing services (emergency, transitional, and permanent housing including Vets Villas), workforce development and employment training, mental health services through the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic, the Homeless Court Program for legal resolution, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), an annual Stand Down resource event, clothing donations, vehicle donation program, and Safe Haven harm reduction housing. VVSD operates multiple locations throughout San Diego County and serves more than 3,000 veterans annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Program Provides Emergency Housing, Transitional Housing, and Permanent Housing options for veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, including the 52-unit Vet Villas in Escondido with on-site case management, food pantry, mental health services, childcare referrals, workforce development, and financial counseling.
• Workforce Development Services Employment and training services helping veterans of all eras prepare for and find new careers through assessment testing, resume development, interview skills training, job placement, and employer outreach assistance.
• Homeless Court Program Partnership between the court, prosecutor, public defender, and local service agencies that helps resolve legal issues for homeless veterans, addressing misdemeanor offenses (jaywalking, under the influence, theft, DUI) through alternative sentencing that credits participation in shelter activities.
• Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic Confidential, high-quality mental health therapy and local referral support services for post-9/11 veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserves, and their family members regardless of discharge status or ability to pay. Services include individual therapy, couples/family therapy, and statewide telehealth.
• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Rapid-housing services for veteran individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of eviction, including rental assistance, utility assistance, rental arrears, case management, and housing location assistance.
• Stand Down Resource Event Annual multi-day event connecting veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness with housing referrals, legal assistance, medical and mental health care, employment support, and other essential services in a single welcoming setting. 2023 event served 564 veterans and family members, 40 children, 30 pets, and provided 1,500 meals each day.
• Clothing Donations Program Accepts new or gently used clothing, towels, socks, underwear, belts, and household items for veterans in shelter and those transitioning into new homes, with a warehouse open by appointment Monday-Friday.
• Vehicle Donation Program Partnership with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS) enabling donors to contribute cars, trucks, vans, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and other vehicles, with free pick-up and tax deduction receipts provided.
• Safe Haven Program A 22-bed harm reduction facility for unsheltered residents with chronic substance use conditions, operated in partnership with Episcopal Community Services as part of a County-City community initiative on the VVSD campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 individuals have participated in Homeless Court Program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• White House Joining Forces InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023First Lady Jill Biden visited Cohen Clinic at VVSD Oceanside as part of White House Joining Forces initiative supporting military families. Initiative focuses on health and well-being awareness and resources.
• Episcopal Community Services (ECS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022ECS operates the 22-bed Safe Haven facility on VVSD's campus for unsheltered residents with chronic substance use conditions. ECS has managed a proven Safe Haven model for more than 25 years. Safe Haven opened early January 2023 as part of County-City partnership.
• Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021FHCSD provides Care Coordination, case management, and support services for Safe Haven residents. Prospective clients are referred by C-HRT, which is a service provided by FHCSD for Safe Haven placement upon screening and evaluation.
• Cohen Veterans Network (CVN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019CVN operates Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics in partnership with VVSD. Three California clinics: San Diego (2019), Oceanside (2022), and Los Angeles (2023). CVN was founded by Steven A. Cohen with a $275M commitment to build 23+ clinics nationwide.
• John Geiss, DDS Dental Clinic / San Diego County Dental FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015In partnership with VVSD, the San Diego County Dental Foundation created and operates an oral health clinic serving San Diego veterans. Since opening in 2015, the clinic has served hundreds of veterans and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in pro bono oral healthcare.
• Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2003CARS is a nationally recognized social enterprise helping nonprofits increase fundraising through vehicle donation programs. Since 2003, CARS has returned more than $300 million to partners. VVSD accepts car, truck, van, SUV, boat, motorcycle, ATV, RV, trailer, or airplane donations.
• California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAVSA is a consortium of six nonprofit veteran service providers working together to address the needs of California's veterans. VVSD is a proud member serving as Vice President. Together they deliver direct services throughout the state from Eureka to San Diego. California has roughly 1/3 of the nation's homeless population.
• Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTFH serves as the San Diego Continuum of Care (CoC), designated by HUD. VVSD's CEO Akilah Templeton serves on the RTFH Board of Directors, Executive and Audit Committees, and chairs the San Diego Continuum of Care Advisory Board.
• San Diego CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partners with VVSD on veteran homelessness initiatives including the County-City Community Harm Reduction Team partnership. More than 200,000 veterans call San Diego County home. Together they built a county-wide plan to achieve 'functional zero' for veteran homelessness.
• San Diego Housing CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with San Diego Housing Commission to provide on-site support at Homeless Resource Center twice weekly. Housing Commission offers up to $2,000 landlord incentives for veterans. Provides HUD-VASH voucher support.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA awards grants to VVSD including nearly $1 million to add 80 beds to Rehabilitation Center in 2001. VA provides HUD-VASH vouchers and partners on Stand Down events. VA Secretary Robert McDonald noted San Diego's challenge to keep up with post-9/11 veteran influx.
• City of San DiegomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of San Diego partners with VVSD on veteran homelessness initiatives. In 1997, opened first emergency shelter for homeless veterans in partnership with City. City covers costs to use Safe Haven facility.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with mental health, career, and wellness programming; a major incumbent in the same donor and corporate-partner pool VVSD draws from, but operating at a much larger national scale.
• The Salvation Army: Operates veteran-specific transitional housing and recovery programs (e.g., in San Diego) alongside a broad portfolio of social services; comparable as a competing provider of VA-funded veteran residential care.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating SSVF and HUD-funded veteran supportive housing programs across multiple states; directly competes for the same federal VA/HUD grant funding as VVSD.

Emerging players

• Cohen Veterans Network: Founded by Steven A. Cohen with a $275M commitment to build 23+ mental health clinics nationally; operates as VVSD's strategic partner (not competitor) and is included as a peer given it is the funding/operating network behind VVSD's Cohen Clinics.

Others

• Episcopal Community Services: San Diego nonprofit that operates the 22-bed Safe Haven on VVSD's campus; a direct operating partner rather than competitor, but highly relevant given shared service model for chronically homeless individuals.

Direct peers

• U.S. Vets (USVETS): National nonprofit providing housing, employment, and mental health services to homeless and at-risk veterans; operates the largest residential program for veterans in the U.S. and is a direct competitor for SSVF and VA grants serving the same veteran population VVSD targets.
• Swords to Plowshares: Bay Area veteran services nonprofit providing case management, housing, employment, and benefits advocacy; comparable as a peer nonprofit in the same California veteran-services ecosystem and co-member of CAVSA.
• New Directions for Veterans: Los Angeles-based nonprofit offering transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and mental health/substance abuse treatment for veterans; directly comparable to VVSD's residential rehab, SSVF, and supportive housing model.

Regional players

• Father Joe's Villages: San Diego's largest homeless services provider; operates emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive services that overlap with VVSD's veteran-targeted housing continuum in the same county.
• Goodwill of San Diego County: Regional San Diego nonprofit operating veteran employment, workforce development, and supportive housing programs; directly comparable to VVSD's Workforce Development and SSVF programs in the same service area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vvsd_veterans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9sDSiHcJMfIV9SN8C4RWJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/VVSD.Veterans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterans-village-of-san-diego
• Instagraminstagram.com/veteransvillageofsd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vietnam Veterans Of San Diego Inc