U.S.VETS, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to prevent and end veteran homelessness, recently hosted its annual U.S.VETS SALUTE Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
As part of the SALUTE Gala, U.S.VETS honored CEO and Marine veteran Stephen J. Peck for his extraordinary leadership, commitment to ending veteran homelessness and positive impact to uplift the lives of those who served. He received the Judge Harry Pregerson Public Service Award, named after U.S.VETS’ visionary founder and Peck’s friend and mentor.
“There is no one more deserving of this honor,” said U.S.VETS Board Chair Carlos Contreras. “As U.S.VETS’ longest-serving CEO, Steve has been an outstanding leader whose conviction and passion exemplify the best of humanity. Despite the challenges of navigating a crisis as daunting as veteran homelessness, Steve has persevered and shown incredible resolve to a vital mission, growing the organization exponentially and proving his brand of advocacy can lead to better outcomes for our veterans and our communities.”
When Peck joined U.S.VETS nearly three decades ago, the organization served just a few hundred veterans in Inglewood, California. Today, U.S.VETS serves more than 12,000 veterans every year across 45 residential and service sites nationwide, providing housing, mental health treatment, employment assistance, food security and other supportive services.
During his tenure as CEO, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has dropped by more than half, from 74,087 in 2010 to 32,882 in 2024. This year in LA County, where U.S.VETS has its largest presence, veteran homelessness declined 23%, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
Peck announced his retirement earlier this year but will continue to serve in an advisory role on 12 new affordable housing developments, including what will become the largest permanent supportive housing community in the nation, serving more than 3,000 veterans and their families on the West Los Angeles VA campus.
U.S.VETS is the largest nonprofit organization with boots on the ground to combat America’s veteran homeless crisis head-on. Its holistic approach delivers intervention and prevention services, including housing, mental health and career programs and wraparound services. With nationwide residential and service sites, U.S.VETS is uniquely positioned to help veterans and their families transition to civilian life. To learn how to get involved or sign up to support U.S.VETS, go to honor.usvets.org/givetoday.
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