Volunteers spent Wednesday morning turning stacks of boards and bags of screws into bedroom dressers.
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A mother and daughter work together to build a dresser for New
Visions Homeless Services' new transitional housing program on
Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Isaac Nielsen, The Nonpareil
The furniture is part of New Visions Homeless Services’ effort to open Council Bluffs’ first transitional housing program dedicated to veterans experiencing homelessness on Oct. 1.
New Visions is converting 10 apartments at its campus at 1435 N. 15th St. into temporary housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. The apartments are part of a 26-unit building and must be furnished and prepared for a Department of Veterans Affairs inspection in early August before the program can move toward its October opening.
The program is supported through the VA’s grant and per diem program, which provides funding to community organizations that offer transitional housing for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Brandy Wallar, president and CEO of New Visions Homeless Services, said the program fills a gap that has existed in Council Bluffs.
“To date, Council Bluffs and Southwest Iowa have not had emergency response for veterans experiencing homelessness,” Wallar said. “They would have to go to Omaha or Des Moines. When there was an opportunity to take some of the apartments that we already have on our campus and convert them to veteran-specific, it was a no-brainer. Our mission is to make sure that the words veteran and homelessness don't exist in the same sentence.”
Veterans who qualify will be able to stay in the apartments for about 90 to 180 days while working toward permanent housing.
Council Bluffs Mayor Jill Shudak said having the program in the city means veterans can remain in familiar surroundings while getting help.
“It means that people who are in need of these services can stay in their own community,” Shudak said. “They're not having to go across the river and navigate with people they're not familiar with. It gives them a sense that their community cares about them, and that people want them to continue to be part of their community, even when they need a help up."
“Everything we can do to help our homeless population, especially our veterans, is a win for our community," Shudak said. "To have a place for them to go, to have a solid roof over their head, is something that will help them have the dignity of life that they deserve after they supported our community and our country.”
To qualify, a person must be a U.S. veteran who was not dishonorably discharged and is experiencing homelessness.
Wallar said the Council Bluffs location will closely mirror New Visions' existing veteran housing program in Omaha while expanding services available in Iowa.
The Council Bluffs campus recently added a substance use therapist and plans to have a mental health therapist who will serve veterans as well as other people experiencing homelessness.
Brandy Wallar, president and CEO of New Visions Homeless Services, discusses the need for landlords to take veterans transitioning after homel…
Residents will have access to meals, case management, transportation to medical and housing appointments, mental health and substance use services, budgeting classes and community activities. They’ll also be able to live in a community of their peers, which Wallar emphasized is an important part of daily life for the people New Visions serves.
“What do you get when you enlist in the military? You get community, purpose, support and honor,” she said. “Then they transition back to being a civilian, and sometimes you also get trauma on top of that, too. With veterans, community is very important. I’ve been working in homeless services for 23 years, and we’ve had veterans come through, and I’ve tried to offer them help, and there’s a lot of shame when they experience homelessness. Sometimes you need a whole community of other veterans to pull them in and say, ‘We’re in this together. We were in it together when we enlisted, and we’re in it together now.’”
Wallar said New Visions will also work with area landlords to help veterans transition into permanent housing. The organization is also seeking businesses to sponsor rooms and community donations to help furnish the apartments before they open.
“We’re always looking for additional support because we do have to purchase beds, we'd like each veteran to have a TV mounted on the wall,” Wallar said. “We need partners to get welcome home kits with towels, shower curtains, plates, silverware, so that when they do exit into permanent housing, they can take that with them.”
![]()
A mother and son work together to build a dresser for New
Visions Homeless Services' first transitional housing
program on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Isaac Nielsen, The Nonpareil
Heather Beekhuizen, community liaison and volunteer coordinator, said the work has already drawn strong community support.
“This has been a great example of generations coming together to work together for a good cause,” Beekhuizen said. “We have a grandfather and grandson out here serving together. We have a mother and a son. We have three generations, a mom and her dad and her daughter working together.”
Beekhuizen said volunteers will continue to be needed as the transitional housing program takes shape.
![]()
Volunteers work to build a dresser for New Visions Homeless
Services' first transitional housing program in Council
Bluffs on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Isaac Nielsen, The Nonpareil
“We’re going to need a lot of help over the upcoming year as we put together this transitional program in Council Bluffs, and then as we also work on Legacy Grove,” Beekhuizen said, referencing a senior veterans housing project planned by New Visions in Omaha. “There will be more furniture assembly, painting and outfitting rooms. Even if swinging a hammer or running a drill isn’t your thing, some people want to go shop for dishes or shower curtains to outfit a room.”
Brandy Wallar, president and CEO of New Visions Homeless Services, discusses Legacy Grove in Omaha to provide shelter for senior veterans faci…
People interested in volunteering or donating can visit newvisionshs.org. Wallar said donations designated for veterans will go directly toward the organization’s veteran programs.
