Treatment for veterans in San Diego is scarce, as it is for most other communities. Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, the major service provider, has only 87 beds. However, eighty-four percent of their residential treatment graduates stay clean and sober for at least one year. The organization is undergoing a major expansion that will triple the current number of beds, plus provide outpatient treatment, transitional housing and expanded counseling, training and employment services.

As in other areas of the country, despite the need for treatment, San Diego County battles NIMBY. San Diego is a military-friendly town, so people might presumably support treatment for veterans. So, the city of San Diego, the county, the Centre City Development Corp., the San Diego Housing Commission, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies and individuals all came together to make the expansion happen.

Editors of the Union-Tribune give high praise to organizers of the expansion efforts for reaching out to the community. The editors comment that, "We hope the commitment to treatment will continue for the expansion of other much-needed programs."

San Diego is a Demand Treatment! Partner.