Building on a successful pilot program, the investment will help 100 additional veterans access benefits earned through their military service.
SAN DIEGO, CA, November 11, 2026 — The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF), Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) and Rancho Santa Fe Foundation are teaming up to invest $200,000—approximately $67,000 each—to expand a successful pilot program providing free legal representation to veterans experiencing homelessness in San Diego County, helping them access critical federal benefits earned through their military service.
The investment builds on an initial $50,000 pilot funded by LDF and RTFH in partnership with Homefront Group, which provided legal representation to 40 veterans receiving services at Veterans Village of San Diego. The current caseload is projected to generate approximately $11.32 million in lifetime VA benefits—more than $220 in projected benefit value for every dollar in the original $50,000 pilot budget.
The expanded program aims to provide legal representation to 100 additional veterans in 2027, helping them overcome barriers to securing the financial resources, healthcare and other benefits that can support long-term housing stability and independence.
“Too many veterans experiencing homelessness face barriers to accessing benefits they’ve already earned through their service. This program addresses those barriers while demonstrating how a relatively modest investment can unlock millions in resources that our veterans can use to overcome homelessness,” said Lucky Duck Foundation CEO Drew Moser.
Led by Chris Czaplak, a retired U.S. Navy officer and VA-accredited attorney, Homefront Group will help veterans navigate disability compensation claims, appeals, discharge-related eligibility determinations and other complex legal matters.
“For many of the veterans we serve, the benefits they’ve earned have been out of reach for years because of complicated legal and administrative barriers,” said Czaplak. “We’ve seen firsthand how the right legal representation can change that. This expansion will allow us to reach more veterans, advocate for their needs, and help them access resources that can make a lasting difference in their lives.”
“Helping veterans overcome homelessness requires more than addressing their immediate needs. It means connecting them with the resources that can help them remain housed for the long term,” said Regional Task Force on Homelessness CEO Tamera Kohler. “We’re excited to expand this successful pilot and work alongside our partners to remove barriers that have prevented veterans from accessing the support they deserve.”
For Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, the investment advances its Supporting Our Heroes initiative and its work to prevent homelessness in San Diego County. The partnership connects these priorities by helping veterans secure earned benefits that can provide reliable income, access to care, and greater housing stability.
“Access to earned benefits can make the difference between continued housing insecurity and a stable path forward,” said Rancho Santa Fe Foundation President and CEO Ben Moraga. “Through Supporting Our Heroes, we’re focused on helping service members and veterans build a successful civilian life. This partnership gives more veterans access to legal help that can resolve longstanding barriers and provide financial support for years to come.”
For many veterans experiencing homelessness, navigating the VA benefits system can be a complex and lengthy process. Missing military records, previously denied claims, discharge-related eligibility barriers and other legal challenges can prevent veterans from accessing benefits they have earned.
Through the pilot program, Homefront Group provided direct legal representation to help veterans navigate these challenges, filing 20 claims, applications and appeals during the first seven months. Two early awards have already been secured, with an estimated combined lifetime benefit value of nearly $1.9 million. Additional cases remain pending or in development.
The expanded program will continue weekly legal clinics at Veterans Village of San Diego and establish a second service location, allowing more veterans to receive consistent, in-person legal assistance.
By helping veterans access existing federal benefits, the partnership seeks to turn a one-time investment in legal assistance into a lasting source of financial stability. Successful claims can provide recurring income to help cover housing and basic necessities, while eligible veterans may also gain access to healthcare, employment training and other supportive services.
The collaborative investment reflects a shared commitment to identifying effective, sustainable solutions to homelessness and ensuring veterans who have served our country can access the resources they have earned.
About the Lucky Duck Foundation
The mission of the Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) is to prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County. LDF and its co-founders, Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, have funded and activated bridge shelters, employment and job training programs, winter coats that transform into sleeping bags, life-saving food and water distribution, trash clean-up, and more. The name Lucky Duck Foundation honors the Kilkenny family’s Irish heritage and their love for the University of Oregon Ducks. The premise is simple: if you have had some good luck and fortune in your life, share your luck with those less fortunate. To encourage this, Pat & Stephanie personally match all donations up to $2 million per year.
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About the Regional Task Force on Homelessness
The Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) is the lead agency for the San Diego Continuum of Care and the region’s homeless policy expert. RTFH leads regional planning and coordination to reduce and end homelessness by bringing together public agencies, nonprofit organizations, housing providers, healthcare systems, and community partners around shared goals and data-driven solutions. The organization administers key federal and state homelessness initiatives, operates the region’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Coordinated Entry System (CES), and conducts the annual WeAllCount Point-in-Time Count. It also serves as the collaborative applicant for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care funding. Guided by the belief that homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring, RTFH works to strengthen systems, improve outcomes, and create pathways to permanent housing.
About Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Rancho Santa Fe Foundation is a San Diego-based community foundation that helps individuals, families, and organizations turn their philanthropic goals into lasting community impact. Since 1981, the Foundation has provided personalized charitable services, including donor-advised funds, nonprofit endowments, and legacy giving. Through its community leadership work, the Foundation brings donors and partners together to support military service members and veterans, prevent homelessness, strengthen fire preparedness, and address needs in Rancho Santa Fe and throughout San Diego County. Learn more at www.rsffoundation.org.
