After the shelters were installed, Schwarzenegger visited the site and met some of the veterans who were staying there (Getty images)

In 2021, Arnold Schwarzenegger donated $250,000 to help provide tiny shelters for homeless veterans in Los Angeles. By Christmas, 25 shelters purchased through his donation had been installed at the Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles, giving former service members a temporary place to stay as they worked towards more stable housing.According to Fox 11, the former California governor made the donation to Village for Vets, a non-profit organisation that works with the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System to support veterans and their families. The money helped the organisation purchase 25 shelters for veterans who had been living on the streets.After the shelters were installed by Team Rubicon volunteers, Schwarzenegger visited the site and met some of the veterans who were staying there. His visit came shortly before Christmas and included a tour of the shelters as well as a holiday event for residents.“I’m really ecstatic. To me, this is the greatest Christmas gift!” Schwarzenegger told Fox 11 while standing inside one of the shelters.

What the tiny shelters offered

The shelters were intended as temporary accommodation rather than permanent homes. Village for Vets said its Tiny Shelter Program was designed to give homeless veterans a safer and more comfortable place to live while they worked towards housing stability.Each small shelter provided a roof, climate control, a comfortable bed and a door that residents could lock. Village for Vets said these basic facilities represented an improvement over living in tent encampments and gave veterans greater safety and dignity.The need for protection from the weather was particularly clear during Schwarzenegger’s visit, which took place on a rainy day in Los Angeles. “It proves the point they are going through not just sunshine and wonderful weather,” Schwarzenegger said.Rob Reynolds of AMVets, a long-time advocate for veterans in West Los Angeles, said the shelters offered facilities that could make a meaningful difference to people moving off the streets. “They have electricity, they have heating and air conditioning, helps bring a little bit of pride back,” Reynolds said.

Veteran calls shelter a ‘life-saver’

Among the residents Schwarzenegger met was veteran Bruce Henry Cooper, who personally thanked the former governor for helping fund the shelters. “It’s been a life-saver for me,” Cooper said.For Cooper, Schwarzenegger’s involvement also sent a message that veterans facing homelessness had not been overlooked. “He has not forgotten us. Not forgotten anybody,” Cooper said.Village for Vets said the shelters were an important step in helping homeless veterans move towards stable housing. The organisation made clear that the small structures were not meant to be a permanent answer to homelessness.Instead, the programme provided temporary shelter for veterans on their journey towards housing stability. By giving residents a bed, climate control, a roof and a locking door, the organisation said the shelters offered an improved standard of living compared with tent encampments.

Schwarzenegger visits veterans before Christmas

Schwarzenegger also spoke about the project in a message shared by Village for Vets after the shelters were installed. “Today, I celebrated Christmas early. The 25 homes I donated for homeless veterans were installed here in LA. It was fantastic to spend some time with our heroes and welcome them into their new homes,” he said.His son Patrick Schwarzenegger joined him during the visit. At a barbecue held as part of the event for veterans, Patrick handed out MOSH nutrition bars. “We owe everything to our veterans, they’ve sacrificed their lives, their family hoods for us and our freedom,” Patrick Schwarzenegger said.He added, “Its the holidays, anything we can do to make other people’s week a little better and happier. It’s all good.”For Arnold Schwarzenegger, the donation was also connected to his own experience in the United States and his desire to give something back to the country. “It makes me feel good I can give something back to this country that has given everything to me,” he said.The impact of Schwarzenegger’s contribution also extended beyond the 25 shelters, according to Village for Vets. The organisation said that after his donation became public, it received more than $100,000 in additional contributions from over 120 new donors. It also gained thousands of new followers and millions of views.