Simple Is Better – When Homelessness Looms
- diannevielhuber
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Proverbs 19:17 – Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Homelessness. It’s not something anyone aspires to experience. For some, this is a very real possibility. They teeter on a very narrow threshold between having a place to live. And not.
Currently, there are over 50,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States. In the city of Madison, WI, almost 150 veterans live without permanent-supportive housing and struggle to meet their most basic daily needs. They want to improve their situation. Fortunately, in the Madison, WI community, others care deeply about the homeless veteran population.
One of the challenges is the lack of available housing options. Specifically in Madison, only two percent of multifamily rental units are unoccupied at any given time. Fostering relationships with landlords and property managers helps them look beyond some of the barriers veterans face while considering them as tenancy. Nonetheless, permanent-supportive housing placements for veterans remain. While waiting for permanent solutions, vets use emergency shelters, sleep outdoors, and utilize local transitional housing options.
This is why organizations like the Wayne D. Horner Memorial Veterans Stand Down are so important. The organization’s mission is to link community partners that offer a variety of essential services to veterans experiencing or are at risk of becoming homeless. They focus on providing “a hand-up, not a hand-out” to veterans.
The Wayne D. Horner Memorial veterans Stand Down is the August Our Monthly Resolution. Named after a Vietnam War Veteran, Wayne, a veteran service officer, wanted to do something positive to assist local veterans experiencing homelessness. Wayne felt many veterans could use the type of break offered to combat troops who needed rest and relaxation to continue their mission. While Wayne was not able to see his dream come to fruition due to complications from Agent Orange exposure related to his service, in 1993, several of Wayne’s fellow combat veterans teamed together and hosted the first annual Wayne D. Horner Memorial Stand Down in Madison, WI.
This tradition continues as veterans and community members of south-central Wisconsin organize to provide a day of relief to those struggling to exit homelessness in our area. Called Stand Down, veterans experiencing homelessness from Dane, Columbia, Dodge, Jefferson, Rock, Green, Iowa, and Sauk Counties are invited to a daylong fall event. The 2026 event will be Oct. 26. Participating veterans are paired with a volunteer buddy to accompany them through the day. After a free meal, veterans are encouraged to browse the nearly 50 service providers. They can get a haircut, seek guidance in employment opportunities and training, financial resources, health/wellness and recovery services, housing assistance, legal assistance, medical and mental health resources, clothing and hygiene needs, spiritual guidance, transportation options as well as relax and connect with other people.
A donation to the Stand Down Madison event provides resources to help veterans ward off homelessness and find resources to meet their needs. If you prefer to support veteran homelessness programs in your community, please do so! Our focus this month is to support veteran homelessness.
To support Stand Down Madison:
Donate at https://www.standdownmadison.org/donate
Donate via mail at Stand Down Madison, P.O. Box 259321, Madison WI, 53725
Purchase items off of their Amazon Wishlist:
If you have gently used clothing to donate, please contact them at: donate@StandDownMadison.org
Stand Down Madison is also looking for event volunteers. To do so, go to: https://www.standdownmadison.org/volunteer
Stand Down Madison seeks to continue the service of Wayne D. Horner by continuing his legacy of leaving no veteran behind. Let’s support their organization and make a difference in even one veteran’s life. One meal, one connection, one little bit of help at a time.
Blessings –
Dianne
Almighty God – You know the stories and challenges that various people experience when they experience homelessness or are on the brink. May those of us who are able support organizations that serve and are designed to help the homeless population. Open my heart to be compassionate towards them. Amen.
Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook and Instagram (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith.)
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