From Corpsman to Community Builder: A Mission to House and Heal Our Veterans
Shaun Swanson
“Every day at the county veteran’s office, I’d answer calls from vets on the edge—jobless, housing ensecure, facing eviction. And every call was very concerning to me.”
I wasn’t just a woman doing intake—I was once one of them.
As a Navy Hospital Corpsman, I spent years caring for severely wounded Vietnam-era veterans. I saw trauma, dignity, and sacrifice firsthand. Later, I fought my own battles—18 years in recovery, now a substance abuse counselor IT. I went to the bottom and climbed back.
That’s why I made a vow: If I made it out, I’d help pull others up.
Especially those who wore the uniform and now feel forgotten.
Our Mission: Rebuild Veterans’ Lives from the Ground Up
In Brown County alone, there are over 20,000 veterans. At least 13% of them are in urgent need of affordable housing. But the system is broken—held together with red tape, siloed services, and waiting lists longer than the winters here in Wisconsin.
That’s where we come in. We’re not just building homes—we’re building an entire village of healing.
✔ 21 affordable housing units
✔ 90+ partner agencies—construction, case management, therapy, financial literacy, employment, and more
✔ Wraparound services including peer support, nature-based healing, art therapy, and veteran mentorship
✔ A community center where services meet souls and connection fuels recovery
And while we’re building those homes—we’re not waiting. We’re already serving veterans on our waitlist right now, helping them access housing, recovery, and community resources.
Early Proof. Real Results. Growing Fast.
- Our homes will soon be under construction
- Many veterans are receiving support while they wait
- Our partnerships span the entire community
- We’re gaining momentum—and trust
But it’s not easy. We’ve had to dispel neighborhood fears, rally city and county support, and overcome the skepticism that veterans carry after too many letdowns.
Still, we keep going—because this work matters.
Not just for housing, but for healing.
Not just for services, but for second chances.
The Vision: A Model That Scales Across the State
In five years, we will:
- House 25 veterans in 17 affordable one bedroom homes and 4 two-resident, two bedroom transitional homes
- Empower many to buy homes of their own
- Expand our community center to house all services under one roof
- Build a peer mentorship program, where healed vets become the next wave of hope
We want to become Wisconsin’s model for veteran housing and reintegration—where every community knows how to take care of its own.
Help Us Build This Village
“If you’ve ever said, ‘thank you for your service,’ this is your chance to show it.” We are launching Operation: Village Builders: a campaign to raise the funds, gather the volunteers, and grow the impact.
Whether you're a:
- Donor or Grantmaker looking to create real change. Click this link to donate to our cause: https://veterans1stnew.com/donate/
- Volunteer or business owner ready to roll up your sleeves. Fill out our form here: https://veterans1stnew.com/volunteer/
- Or a veteran yourself looking to serve and be served…https://veterans1stnew.com/apply/
We need you.
Your support doesn’t just build houses, it builds purpose.
It builds belonging.
It builds lives worth living again.
