In 2017, Tom Wiltzius of Appleton was unable to find senior living housing for his mom, a veteran of World War II. Looking for a solution, he connected with Outagamie County Housing Authority, and a plan was proposed.
At the Outagamie County Housing Authority Glenpark Campus in Grand Chute, a building that housed students at Fox Valley Technical College had the potential to be repurposed as affordable housing for veterans.
To implement the change, Wiltzius formed a nonprofit organization, Wisconsin Veterans Village Association (wisvva.org). To further the project, the Outagamie County Housing Authority agreed that the association would be able to purchase the facility once 80% of the apartments became vacant as part of natural attrition.
Those apartments would be remodeled as they became available. Although Wiltzius is no longer with the nonprofit, other dedicated volunteers have taken his place. One of those, Steven Day, retired rear admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, currently serves as president, secretary and vice president of fundraising and events.
“Around 2019, I was meeting a good friend and he mentioned the Veterans Village and said I needed to get involved,” he said. “I went down the street from our meeting at the American Legion Post and met with Tom (Wiltzius), and after talking to him, said I would get involved if at least one of the names on the units was named after my Coast Guard unit.”
That was hundreds of volunteer hours ago. Day was convinced that the association could make a huge impact for the better. Now almost completely occupied by veterans, it is doing just that. And Day would like to see it do more and move to the next phase.
To do that, he will relinquish some of his titles this year and focus on fundraising. As he does so, he is seeking ideas and input and recently contacted SCORE NorthEast Wisconsin. Paul Carron was assigned as his mentor. (SCORE is part of the Small Business Administration and offers free mentoring to nonprofit and for-profit businesses.)
“I am especially appreciative of Paul and the information he shared with me,” Day said. “He provided ideas on fundraising and we talked about Charity Navigator, using social media, and the option of utilizing the ‘every door direct’ program offered by the United States Post Office. He was excellent.”
Other topics that SCORE will provide assistance on include advertising, accounting, website management, and expansion plans.
Day also has ideas of his own. His goal is to raise enough funds to pay off the loan the Veterans Village has with Outagamie County. When the property was purchased by Veterans Village from the Outagamie Housing Authority in late April 2023, the building was sold on a land contract at a cost of $1.9 million. It is amortized over 30 years with a balloon payment after 10 years.
That’s what Day is focusing on. He wants to pay off the loan as quickly as possible so that Veterans Village can go on to the next phase. Toward that goal, the Financial Free Fund has been established.
Fundraising events, overseen by Day with the help of volunteers, include an annual golf outing and an event called “Taste of the Troops.” In addition, they have applied for and received grants, and this year, he plans to kick off a program he calls “$1 a day.”
“Over five years, if we can get 1,000 people to pay $1 a day to go toward the loan, we can pay it off,” he said. “Our goal is to pay off the loan so we can consider constructing another building on adjacent land. But we can’t do that until the loan is paid off.”
And the need is great. The building has 48 apartments. There are 16 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom units. Of those, all but five have been remodeled and leased to veterans.
Attesting to the demand, there are about 58 veterans on the waiting list for the opportunity to be part of this housing venture.
It is more than a simple apartment building. There is a community center that is being remodeled to include a communal kitchen, a Veteran Memorial Museum, a media area, and a career center. A recent addition is the Courtyard of Honor that was dedicated in November. It is an outdoor space that is designed to honor veterans.
Wisconsin Veterans Village is more than housing for veterans. There is a community center, media area, career center as well as the Courtyard of Honor, pictured here, that was dedicated in November and designed to honor veterans.
Officials say the courtyard serves as a place of peace, reflection and community engagement where residents can gather and reflect. It includes two waterfalls with lighting, an eternal flame, and a wall with patio seating.
Day said, “Vet Village is a life-changing initiative dedicated to supporting veterans who have served our country. It provides safe housing, mental health support, job training, and a community that understands their needs.”
As director of fundraising, he encourages others to support the venture.
“By donating to Vet Village, you’re not just helping a veteran, you’re helping them rebuild their life with dignity and hope. Your contribution ensures these heroes receive the support they deserve and empowers them to thrive after their service,” he urged.
It is also a good place to volunteer. Day, who puts in an average of three hours a day, is part of a group that he says sees a need and fills it. Because the nonprofit is run almost entirely by volunteers, the expenses are kept to a minimum. But the greatest reward is being around other veterans. The board of directors is mostly made up of veterans; all members are highly engaged.
“It is different than other boards I’ve served on,” Day said. “You have to be committed to putting in a lot of time.”
Together, they work toward fulfilling their mission: to provide affordable housing, support and community to veterans throughout their lifespan, and to identify and develop affordable, safe, dignified and sustainable housing for Wisconsin veterans.
Although the task might seem huge, Day and the other volunteers are motivated by the positive impact they are making. It is challenging and rewarding.
“I am passionate about this because I’m a veteran and was proud to serve,” he said. “But I am aware that sometimes people need a pat on the back and sometimes a kick in the butt. At Vet Village, we say that we extend our hand to our fellow brothers or sisters that have served but we do not give handouts. Some of us have had some real challenges after experiencing the horrors of war, but if you raised your right hand to serve and were honorably discharged, that’s all we care about. You are welcome here.”
Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Steven Day helps give veterans affordable housing at Veterans Village