For Veterans Wisconsin
WISCONSIN VETERANS
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONTACT US:
DISCLAIMER
Homeless To Independence Inc. is a 501©3 non-profit organization. We are self supporting and we do NOT receive any government grant funding what-so-ever to pay bills for anyone in any situation. We do not give away money. We do not give out loans against any money.
This ministry is supported with generous financial donations that are used to help keep us functioning. Our purpose is to help supply individuals and families with personal needs such as food, toiletries, clothing, household items and baby/adult diapers/wipes both locally and to areas affected by disasters . At this time, we do not offer any shelter or transitional housing services. Again, we DO NOT pay any bills. We DO NOT pay any rents or mortgages.
If you are actually homeless, or about to be homeless or need emergency assistance of any kind, DIAL “211” from a land-line telephone. This will not work from a cell telephone. Tell the receiver your situation and what you need. They will give you information specific for the location you are currently in plus any referrals you may need. They have the most up to the minute information for your specific area. Dialing “211” will get you help and much more info than this office can provide. Homeless to Independence wants you to have all the information you need to get through the situation you are in.
Don’t have a land-line telephone??? Go to your local police department, library, or house of worship and ask to use their land-line telephone. They may even make the call on your behalf.
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For those of you looking for employment through-out the United States, District of Columbia or Puerto Rico, simply;
2. CHOOSE YOUR STATE/COMMONWEALTH/TERRITORY;
3. CHOOSE THAT STATE/COMMONWEALTH/TERRITORY’S EMPLOYMENT PAGE.
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Homeless To Independence Inc. is not responsible for misprints or cancellations of events by the event holders, landlord and/or their agent, or ourselves. Homeless to Independence Inc. also reserves the right to “NOT” offer services to people and/or persons that are rude, unpleasant, and untruthful in any way shape or form, belligerent and the like.
OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, BUT WE DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!
OFFICE CONTACT INFO:
HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE INC., 201 STATION ROAD #258, QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951
THE VERY BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS TO SEND ME AN EMAIL: ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG
OFFICE NUMBER IS: 1-908-454-1500 LISTEN TO THE RECORDING
Please note that our office does have very limited volunteer staff and if we are one telephone line we cannot answer the other line. There is simply not enough time in the day to answer and/or return each and every telephone call.
THANK YOU!!!
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Find assistance as a vet, spouse, or dependent
One hundred and fifty years ago today, President Lincoln signed a law establishing the first federal veterans’ facility for disabled Civil War veterans. This facility gave root to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ assistance programs.
Today, the VA offers many benefits and services to eligible veterans and connects our military service men and women with resources across the country. Share this information with a veteran you know, or an organization that helps veterans.
LINK: http://explore.va.gov/
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All employment information and career event information can be found here:
Wisconsin Employment
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All housing information can be found here:
Wisconsin Affordable Rentals
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April 2026
WDVA Celebrates National Volunteer Week!
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During the week of April 19-25, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs marked National Volunteer Week at our Veterans Homes in Chippewa Falls, King, and Union Grove. Volunteers were invited to award luncheons and received certificates recognizing the thousands of hours they’ve spent with our members.
Secretary James Bond travelled to the Homes in King and Chippewa Falls to meet with and thank volunteers (above in the bottom picture with volunteers). Deputy Secretary Chris McElgunn visited our Home in Union Grove to thank volunteers and presented certificates to them (above, top right).
Please join us in expressing our collective appreciation to our volunteers for their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to those we serve!
Want to see what our Homes are up to? Please follow the Facebook pages for the Veterans Homes at Chippewa Falls, King, and Union Grove.
Building Partnerships: Secretary Bond Recognizes County & Tribal Veteran Officers at Annual Conference
Secretary Bond was the keynote speaker on the first day of the County and Tribal Veteran Service Officers Association of Wisconsin’s Spring Conference in Stevens Point.
“For the past three years, I’ve done my best to strengthen our relationship by visiting every County and Tribal Veteran Service Office multiple times,” said Secretary Bond in his remarks. “You are the boots on the ground, and the first place many of our state’s veterans turn to. You are our key partners in helping WDVA achieve its mission.”
In addition to highlighting shared goals and providing updates, Secretary Bond recognized Janelle Gallatin and Rock Larson for their work on recently passed legislation allowing former Guard and reserve members to indicate their veteran status on operators’ licenses and identification cards. He also thanked Governor Evers and legislators for their bipartisan support for all of the veteran-focused legislation signed into law this session, noting that these legislative wins are the result of partnerships and collaborations among our many state veteran service organizations.
Pictured: Secretary Bond speaking to the attendees of the County and Tribal Veteran Officers Association of Wisconsin’s Spring Conference in Stevens Point, WI, on April 27, 2026.
Veterans Museum Celebrates 125 Years of Preserving and Telling Veteran Stories
To mark the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM) this month, Secretary Bond joined our Museum’s Director, Chris Kolakowski, for the unveiling of the new historical banners on display detailing the museum’s vibrant history. The banners were initially on view in the West Gallery of the Wisconsin State Capitol and now can be found on display at the museum.
We encourage you to visit the museum to see for yourself the fascinating stories and exhibits on display about Wisconsin’s veterans and their sacrifices for our nation.
Read more about the fascinating 125-year timeline of the museum’s history, here.
Pictured (left to right): WDVA Secretary Bond and WVM’s Director, Chris Kolakowski with the 125th Anniversary banners celebrating the history of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in the State Capitol, which are on now on display in the Museum in downtown Madison.
2026 WDVA Memorial Day Ceremonies
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Please mark your calendars for our Memorial Day ceremonies taking place May 23-25, 2026 at our Veteran Memorial Cemeteries located in King, Spooner, and Union Grove. This year’s Memorial Day theme is ‘Wisconsin was there’ as we honor and remember the sacrifices of our state’s and nation’s service members. These ceremonies are free and open to the public.
- Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery – Spooner, WI – Saturday, May 23 – 1:00 p.m.
- Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery – Union Grove, WI – Sunday, May 24 – 11:00 a.m.
- Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery – King, WI – Monday, May 25 – 10:00 a.m.
For directions and information about all three state veteran memorial cemeteries, please visit WDVA’s cemeteries website.
WDVA Remembers WWII Veteran, Lew Harned, M.D.
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The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs mourns the passing of WWII veteran and retired Army Brigadier General, Dr. Lew Harned, of Madison, who died on April 15, 2026 at age 101.
Please join us in expressing our sympathies to his family and friends and in honoring his lifelong service to our state and nation.
Read more about Dr. Harned’s extraordinary life and service here.
Pictured: Secretary Bond and General Lew Harned, with Miss Wisconsin Teen, Natalie Popp, at Wisconsin Veterans Museum on June 16, 2025.
Secretary Bond meets with Lac Court Oreilles new TVSOs
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Secretary Bond met with new Tribal Veteran Service Officers (TVSO) Louis Traverzo and Robert Pacheco for the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. He welcomed them to the TVSO community and shared information about veteran benefit programs, accreditation training and TVSO training opportunities. The visit was capped off with a tour of the LCO Ojibwe University.
Pictured: (Top left) Louis Traverzo, TVSO, and Secretary Bond; (Top right and bottom) Secretary Bond met with Robert Pacheco, TVSO, and took a tour of LCO Ojibwe University – April 7, 2026.
VSO State Commanderes and WDVA Leaders Discuss Veteran Advocacy
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Earlier this month, Secretary Bond met with Veteran Service Organization State Commanders hosted by DAV at their headquarters office in De Pere, WI. They discussed the challenges and priorities facing veterans in our state.
Direct face-to-face communication is key to the kind of collaboration needed to address current issues and successfully serve our state’s veteran community.
Picture credit to DAV Wisconsin.
Join the WDVA Team – Apply Today!
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Looking for a new, rewarding career? WDVA is looking for great people like you to help us serve veterans in Wisconsin! This month’s featured job opening is for a Medicare Reimbursement Specialist at our Wisconsin Veterans Home at King.
You can also search for WDVA’s job openings across the state which includes various positions with our administrative offices in Milwaukee and Madison, our three veteran memorial cemeteries, and skilled caregivers at our three state veteran homes.
To view all available openings, and learn how to apply, please visit wisc.jobs today!
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WISCONSIN VETERAN’S EVENTS:
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Military Veterans, Military Spouses, and Transitioning Servicemen and Women, If you are interested in a Truck Driving Career please visit our site to learn more information. We also have a brand new podcast that will be talking about approved Trucking Companies, CDL Schools, Military Skills Test Waiver, Tuition Reimbursement, and so much more.
Please let us know what questions you might have.
The Trucking Industry has Great Careers not jobs.
CDLVETS.COM
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VETERANS EMPLOYMENT
https://1.transitioncareers.com/jobs/?keywords=&pos_flt=0&location=Wisconsin%2C+United+States&location_completion=city%3D%24state%3DWisconsin%24country%3DUnited+States&location_type=state&location_text=Wisconsin%2C+United+States&location_autocomplete=1&radius=320&t735=179
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https://sba.my.site.com/s/b2b-course-information
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Full ride scholarship for veterans and their families looking to learn tech!
Super excited to announce Vschools partnership with VETS2IINDUSTRY!
All prior and current military members and their families are able to apply for this full- ride scholarship. Full details on the scholarship below.
If you would like to know more on how to enter the tech field please feel free to set a time to meet with me.
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Women Veterans Health Care
CALL CENTER: CALL OR TEXT
1-855-829-6636
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disABLEDperson Inc. Are you or someone you know in need of funds to assist with college? Come and che k out our Fall 2022 National Scholarship for College Students with Disabilities. #disability #jobs #scholarships
https://www.disabledperson.com/scholarships/34/
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Any Pilots out there? Join the new Military Pilots LI Group! The goal is to help Mil-Pilots network and find opportunities. You don’t need to be a military pilot to join – just willing to network!
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To honor disability pride month, I am helping all jobseekers with disabilities:
✅free 30-minute job search strategy call 📱
✅free jobseeker pdf cheat sheet 📃
✅I will find up to 3 open jobs from my network based on your request 🗒
✅free resources you probably don’t know about 😮
How can you contribute as an employer/recruiter?
✅share open jobs in the comments
Send me a dm, leave a comment or tag someone that needs this right now
https://www.linkedin.com/in/searchable4u/
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Hello everyone. I just wanted to inform all of you about our great nonprofit, Veterans Moving Forward. We provide Service Dogs to Veterans dealing with mental and/or physical challenges at no cost to the veteran or their family across the country. Through our services, VMF makes a meaningful difference in the lives of disabled veterans by facilitating their recovery and increasing their safety and independence within their homes and communities.
Our training takes two years, from an 8-week-old puppy to a mature service dog, with an average cost of $40,000 per service dog. The current Department of Veteran Affairs’ policy is to provide support dogs only to veterans with visual or hearing impairment, not dealing with mental challenges. Therefore we need donations to support our important mission.
A year ago, VMF placed Service Dog “Zamp” with Jim “Doc” Anderson, an Air Force veteran who suffered severely with PTSD and who attempted suicide three times. Jim served as a mass casualty officer. SD Zamp is named in honor and memory of Marine legend Louis Zamperini.
Jim says that having SD Zamp has been a life-altering experience. His entire attitude has changed providing him with a totally different outlook on life. They’re together 24/7, attending events, poker and bridge games at the Clubhouse. During Jim’s recent back surgery, SD Zamp rode in the ambulance and stayed in the hospital for four days.
Jim states that “Zamp is an incredibly special Service Dog and everyone who has meet him agrees – that he is special. Since he came into my life full-time, he has made a major difference in my life as witnessed by my wife, therapists, and psychiatrists all who agree that they have seen a change in me that they have not seen in the 20+ years that I have been in counseling. But all that has changed since Zamp entered my life. He is a stabilizing force in my life.”
Many other veterans like Jim need our help. Your donation and hopefully, becoming a monthly supporter, will ensure that we are able to support these veterans across the country.
For more information or to make that tax-deductible donation, please visit the Veterans Moving Forward website: www.vetsfwd.org. Also check out our Facebook page at https://lnkd.in/gdnnycr. And feel free to contact me at any time. Email: gsumner@vetsfwd.org. C: 703-595-8800. We would greatly appreciate having yours and your business’s support for our Service Dogs for Veteran Programs.
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Wanted to post some scholarship opportunities for veterans transitioning. Would love to talk to all of you considering a career in Tech. Apply today for our 100% Tuition Paid Military & Veteran Scholarship today!
Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/guCnYHnb
Are you Interested in #launching your Tech Career???
1) Schedule an appointment with me.
2) Add us on Linkedin
Thomas Gnesda
Veteran Strategic Partnerships
Joshua Dominic Prado, MAEd-AET
Director of Growth Partners
Feel Free to Send us a direct message and We’ll help you get started! 📞
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Keep informed and current on updates, opportunities, job postings and inside information to help navigate the federal hiring process, join the Veterans Federal Employment Collaborative (#VFEC) at https://lnkd.in/gYnZNmgP
Brock Young• FollowingMil-to-Fed Success Story | #Veterati Mentor | #DoDSkillBridge Alum | #OneMoreVeteranHired3d • 3 days ago
Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA): What it is NOT is more important than what it IS.
Many transitioning Service Members are eligible for several special hiring authorities (SHA). Each one is unique, and it’s important to know what they are used for, as well as what their limitations are.
One SHA I have found people don’t truly understand is the VEOA.
The USAJobs definition of the VEOA is: “Service personnel separated after three or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions, are eligible to apply to positions that otherwise may have only been available to current competitive service employees. In VEOA appointments, preference eligibles and Veterans are not given preference, but they are allowed to compete for job opportunities that are not offered to other external candidates.” (https://lnkd.in/gSDWtZ87
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Okay, but what does that MEAN! For one, it means that even though active-duty Service Members aren’t technically considered “federal employees,” it allows them to compete for jobs that are only open to current or previous employees. On USAJobs, those are the jobs with the symbol below.
Some expectation management here; using the VEOA also typically means your resume will be referred, no matter what. Good, right? Not always.
Like many vets, seeing my resume “referred” was cool, but it also meant nothing told me my resume wasn’t anywhere near what the agency and HR professionals were looking for. So I kept applying and getting referred, and applying and getting referred, and applying and getting referred… and applying and getting referred…
I finally took the time to dig into my resume, take some webinars, talk to some mentors and HR professionals, and it was only THEN that I realized that the VEOA was nothing more than something that allowed me to compete with current/former federal employees.
It didn’t offer me any preference (beyond allowing me to compete) or entitle me to a job (which of course is right there in the VEOA verbiage on OPM’s site).
Using the VEOA still requires your resume to be on point, meet all of the qualifications required by the announcement and supplemental questionnaire, AND needs to show that you are the best candidate for the position. It is a competition after all.
So for those who keep getting referred (and have been using the VEOA), but haven’t been getting the interviews, this might be why.
Find a mentor. Have someone take a look at your resume, and don’t assume just because you’ve been getting referred, your resume is anywhere near the quality it needs to be to get you hired.
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PTSD GROUP INFO
ADHD Time Management Focus Tools That Work. Come and check out our latest Blog Post! #disability #jobs #adhd
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SPECIAL VETERAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT
Last year One More Day launched a new Facebook group called One More Day Lost Heroes. . This group is restricted access and was created with one goal in mind- to provide a safe place for loved ones to post a picture and a story about their “lost heroes”.
The losses include combat-related suicides or PTSD-related suicides.
If you have lost your hero, please visit the Lost Heroes group and post a picture of yours. Meet others who have also suffered these unimaginable losses.
If you are struggling but are not ready to ask for help, take step one and “#justtalk, #tellyourstory. You matter and your story matters, and I know, that I for one, want to hear it.
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DISABLED VETERAN’S JOB BOARD
“Connecting our Community with Employers since 2002” We have thousands of remote positions waiting for you! #disability #jobs #remotework
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SPECIAL VETERANS ANNOUNCEMENT
Veterans LinkedIn Partners Promotion – How strong is your resume? We are currently offering a Free Resume Critique. Send your resume to: info@proresume.biz
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SPECIAL VETERANS ANNOUNCEMENT
Disabled American Veterans & SupportersJacer (Aguilar) Collins • 2nd1d • 1 day ago
If anyone belonging to this group needs or knows someone that is in need of #resume #coverletter help in their #jobsearch feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to help!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaceraguilar/
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Be a Survivor and Reach Out and Join us for Warriors for Life (WFL) “Peer-to Peer” Online Peer Support Group where “Sharing is Caring!”: https://lnkd.in/gsebEKw
“Remember this always and the meaning runs deep for all those who’ve served this great nation: ‘Honor & Respect Always — Warriors for Life!’ ” — COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs`
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Make Sure Your Business is Being Seen By Heroes Worldwide
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HOPE WHITE – Veteran
Meeting ID: 843 7751 6080
Passcode: Alfredo#1
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WE WELCOME ALL INFORMATION FOR EVENTS FOR OUR VETERANS IN WISCONSIN –
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THEM TO ME DIRECTLY AT: ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG
THERE IS NEVER A CHARGE FOR US TO HELP YOU GET THE WORD OUT –
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! IT IS OUR DUTY TO SUPPORT YOU!
UPDATED 04-24-26
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SUPPORT THIS VETERAN OWNED BUSINESS!
#VetBiz Success: Army Vet Revitalizes Hotel and Her Community With SBA-Backed LendingKristine Ruehl bootstrapped her way from humble beginnings toward entrepreneurship with the Army Reserve, serving for eight years to help pay for college. From there she spent five years in commercial banking. When she saw the dilapidated Hotel Stebbins, she wanted to renovate it and improve the small community of Algoma, just south of Wisconsin’s summer capital Door County. Calling on her expertise and contacts in the banking world, she began the long road to bringing the hotel back to life and profitability in 2005.
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Ruehl phased renovations of the 1857 property with several SBA-backed loans. She started with purchasing the building and business, improving the restaurant and bar, and addressing urgent mechanical and structural problems. By May 2006, she was ready to take the hotel from a seasonal opening to year-round availability. “We didn’t have many employees those first years,” she says. “I tended bar, I cooked—I put in a lot of sweat equity.” Three years later, she updated the second floor to include 10 themed rooms. She also created a spacious executive condo out of former attic space on the third floor, which became a year-round revenue stream. In 2009, she renovated the building’s front exterior, and in 2015 added new carpeting, new bathrooms and other amenities in all units, conversion of unused space into a kitchen suite, and more. With this update, all of the hotel’s 4,000 square feet became dedicated to revenue generation. She also invested heavily from the beginning in the hotel website and online marketing, using her own capital as well as SBA-backed loans. “Marketing investment in the hospitality industry is an absolute necessity,” she says. “The website and our social media presence have attracted people from all over the world—and locals who haven’t been in since before I took over.” Hotel Stebbins has turned a profit every year except its first since the renovation. Revenues have grown since and held steady and employees have gone from six to 15 or 20 during the busy summer season. Hotel Stebbins also helped to spark the revitalization of downtown Algoma along with other young entrepreneurs and business owners, and Kristine has been recognized for her community contributions with the Algoma Chambers Leadership Award, Community Improvement Awards, and Kewaunee County’s Customer Service award. In 2019, Kristine was also nominated by her lender, Hometown Bank, for SBA’s Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year award. “SBA–backed lending has helped me create a livelihood for myself and my employees and has brought jobs and vitality to this small community. As both a business owner and a former commercial banker, these loans really can make a difference for the small entrepreneur’s ability to start, grow, and expand a business.” |
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WDVA, Legion to Help Bury Indigent Veterans
MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the American Legion Department of Wisconsin today announced an effort to ensure that military veterans receive the proper burial they deserve. The partnership seeks to remedy a situation where a veteran may pass away without a next-of-kin claiming them or without the funding to hold a funeral for them.
Together, the WDVA and American Legion are working to reach out to the more than 450 funeral service providers in Wisconsin to identify the remains of deceased veterans who may be potentially eligible for a military burial..
Read more at:
WDVA and American Legion to Help Bury Indigent Veterans
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