Originally Published as: Making a Difference in the Lives of Veterans: Veterans 1st of Northeast Wisconsin (NEW)
With so much that is negative going on in the world, it is revitalizing to stop and take stock of some of the good things happening. Veterans 1st is definitely one of those good things.
The organization’s mission is to help area veterans who are underserved in the Green Bay, Wisconsin, community. Many are housing insecure and struggling to keep roofs over their heads. While working at the Brown County Veterans Service Office, Gail Nohr noticed that the resources to help these veterans were insufficient to deal with the numbers who needed help. Her job was to connect veterans with the resources they needed, and sometimes the best she could do was send them to a local shelter. While it was good that they had someplace to go, Gail, a former Navy Corpsman (medical specialist) wanted an alternative for them; she wanted to send them somewhere they could have their own space and receive the other help they needed.
Veterans 1st Gets Started
Gail is a resourceful woman. She has served on the Housing and Homeless Coalition for a long time so she has connections in the community, and because of her previous employment she is a resource navigator. She is also a substance abuse counselor in training. Her partner, Kim Nohr, is a retired carpenter and homebuilder. In 2022 the two decided to create another resource to help the veterans who need it.
In the beginning the pair were fundraisers, reaching out to funders in the area, writing grant proposals, and making connections. They also put together a 15-member board comprised of CEOs, a couple of Major Generals, a lawyer, and other concerned citizens, and these board members have strong connections in the community, too.
The Vision
The veterans that the organization wants to help are in a variety of situations. Some struggle with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, or substance abuse. Some are housing insecure, some are unemployed or under-employed. Some have no family to help, in other cases the family doesn’t have the resources to help. There are many different stories and situations, but they could all benefit from a helping hand.
The vision for Veterans 1st is to provide those helping hands. They are building a village comprised of 21 houses along with a Community Center complete with an office, kitchen, and meeting space. Therapy, training, and other gatherings will be held in the center.
The Houses
The village will be comprised of four residences for vets with nowhere to go. They will pay 30% of their income to stay in these 600 sq. ft. homes with two bedrooms for two veterans. Seventeen homes that offer below market rent are 400 sq. ft. each with one bedroom; they can accommodate a veteran and their significant other.
The idea, Gail said, is to “place people without resources in the shared transitional units where they can live for two years while they are offered wrap-around services such as group therapy, substance abuse therapy, financial help, employment counseling, and more. We will also connect them with the VA center, health clinic, and other resources – we have many resources,” she added.
Hopefully a couple of years down the road, the individual will be in a better place, and will be sufficiently employed to move to one of the below-market rent homes. Veterans can live in them for up to three years, and they can stay longer if they choose to become a squad leader. Squad leaders are in charge of six homes, and when the volunteers leave, they are someone that the residents can turn to for assistance. They will attempt to keep the peace and offer advice and other help as needed. If a situation is beyond their scope, they can contact volunteers.
The houses are being built by professionals, a variety of tradesmen and contracted builders who have volunteered their work for in-kind services or reduced rates. They are putting the homes and the community center together from top to bottom. There are apprenticeships that trade unions are offering free to students. Retirees are also offering their help. All of this work is scheduled and overseen by Kim Nohr, the general contractor.
The Community
Most of the community is very supportive of Veterans First. There is a list of about 300 people who want to volunteer at the village in one way or another. There are many people in the community with an interest in this organization, including the waiting list of people who would like to move into the village.
Gail said the village community is not meant for people with extreme mental health issues; those people will be referred to other organizations that are better equipped to provide the needed care, such as the VA’s Mental Health department or the County Mental Health Services.
Goals
The immediate goals of Veterans 1st is to get people off the streets. Intermediate goals for clients is to get them the support they need, whether that is therapy, counseling, or assistance in finding a job. The long-term goal is to help people become employed. “The ultimate goal is to get people into meaningful work with a livable wage,” Gail said.
As for the organization, what is its ultimate goal? Do they have plans to expand?
“One step at a time,” Gail said. “We are hoping to open the village at the end of the year, but it is still a work in progress.
“We see a need for shelter for elderly people, so that is a possibility, but right now we are focused on helping the veterans and working towards getting them into homes.”
