Veterans Village
About the series
Veterans Village of San Diego is a nationally renowned nonprofit that brings in more than $17 million in public funds each year. But staff and residents fear that its drug and alcohol treatment center on Pacific Highway has strayed far from what it once was.
inewsource reporter Jill Castellano spoke with dozens of people who have lived or worked at Veterans Village. Her project has exposed overdoses at the rehab center, widespread drug use, unsafe living conditions, poor food quality and more.
Jill Castellano is an investigative data reporter at inewsource. She has worked for The Salt Lake Tribune, The Desert Sun and USA TODAY, and she earned a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting in 2018 for her work on the deaths of undocumented border crossers. At inewsource, she has covered campaign finance, criminal justice, public health and veterans issues.
Series Impact
Two months after the investigation published, county officials revealed that they had been quietly working behind the scenes to address many of the concerns raised in the reporting, ultimately leading them to put a freeze on new admissions at the rehab center “pending corrective action.”
Series Reporting
Veterans say renowned rehab program is now a minefield of drug abuse
Residents and staff say the renowned nonprofit, which operates a drug and alcohol treatment program, is now dangerous for people with addiction.
Audio from the series
How our reporting on drug abuse at a San Diego rehab center continues to make an impact
San Diego’s Veterans Village — and our yearslong investigation — is at the center of a new report examining federal oversight of the facility.
Months after the state pulls license, VVSD gets contract with city for shelter beds
The city of San Diego has turned to Veterans Village of San Diego to provide needed shelter beds for the homeless. VVSD recently had its substance abuse treatment license revoked by the state, but officials say that will not be an issue with the new deal.
Veterans Village did not appeal state license revocation
Losing the license means that VVSD can no longer provide substance abuse services to vets and non-vets at its San Diego facility.
State moved to revoke VVSD license after April inspection revealed more violations
California health regulators have accused the veterans’ drug rehab center of violations related to the handling of medications and other policies.
State moves to revoke license for Veterans Village
The action left San Diego County officials scrambling to move more than 70 clients from the renowned rehab center.
A death in March triggers more scrutiny of Veterans Village
The renowned San Diego rehab center has been flagged by both county and state officials for a series of violations.
County admissions freeze lifted at Veterans Village of San Diego
The nonprofit can admit county clients again to its addiction treatment facility following a seven-month pause due to safety concerns.
Six months later, Veterans Village rehab center still on county admissions freeze
Ongoing investigations and a county admissions freeze are still plaguing the nonprofit’s renowned rehab center.
A fifth death prompts state scrutiny of Veterans Village of San Diego
Marcus Mondragon was a resident at the renowned nonprofit’s rehab center when he died on Oct. 1.
A Navy SEAL overdosed, then ran. Why a judge released him from jail
Decorated Navy SEAL Nathanael Roberti nearly died at the troubled San Diego rehab center in April.
San Diego officials halt admissions at Veterans Village ‘pending corrective actions’
The county said clients cannot enroll in the drug treatment program until “corrective actions” are taken.
